Editor’s Corner: Pocket Gamer’s 2024 in review

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  • Editor in Chief Dann Sullivan pulls up a pew to discuss the previous year
  • It’s been a year of extremes, which we tend to say every year
  • The highs of this year show that the future isn’t as bleak as it might seem

As a seasoned gaming journalist with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the current state of mobile gaming is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s like watching a Phoenix rise from the ashes, transforming from a simple pastime into a global powerhouse that rivals even the mightiest console giants.

As we approach the conclusion of 2024, a particularly momentous year in the annals of the gaming industry, I find it fitting to take a retrospective glance back at this dynamic year. Instead of merely discussing the industry’s current status, I aim to delve deeper and explore the implications of recent trends and shifts for the evolving landscape of mobile gaming, as well as provide insights regarding our website’s role in these developments.

This marks the end of my fifth year running the consumer side of the editorial output at Steel Media (internally we have B2B and B2C divisions, and while I strafe them to a degree, most of my time is spent on our player-focused sites). It’s been the strangest year to date.
Well, 12-13 years most of those independent publishers are gone. It’s been a slow burn, but more and more outlets have closed and, due to the changes to how advertising and search engines work, that’s something that seems to have only accelerated during my time at Steel Media – especially over the past eight/nine months.

Over time, many websites I admired greatly have been sold multiple times, eventually fading away, leaving little trace of the initial wave of independent media. However, despite this, there is a resurgence of smaller, fan-supported, and independently run media emerging – offering some optimism that the spirit of tastemaker, recommendation-driven, and critically acclaimed media will carry on, even if not under the same names as before.

Pocket-Sized Persistence

That said – and this isn’t a boast or a gloat – we’ve held strong during the ‘traffic’-tumultuous past three years, grazed by the traffic crashes that have gutted larger publishers. We’ve done that by pivoting the kind of articles that we write: amping up reviews, launching more regular features and restoring the podcast.

In addition to our good fortune, we’ve received tremendous backing from an exceptional sales force, tech team, and core operations unit. Furthermore, we’ve greatly profited from our extraordinary Pocket Gamer Connects gatherings and the numerous opportunities and side events they offer.

The site has undergone some changes, and these alterations are apparent to our frequent visitors. We’ve made adjustments to the way and where content is presented, leading to cleaner URLs, titles, and the introduction of the highlights sections (referring to myself in the third person earlier). Our layout has been slightly redesigned, making our homepage more like a carefully selected collection. Given that we have roots in magazine publishing, it’s fitting that we can reflect this history promptly.

Through our company, Steel Media (which owns Pocket Gamer), we have consistently flourished by adapting to and initiating conversations about emerging trends. These shifts have ranged from Touchscreen technology, App Stores, Subscription models, Battle Passes, Microtransactions, Webstores, Extended Reality (XR), as well as more debatable subjects such as NFTs, Blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence.

AI has consistently played a significant role in driving innovation within video games (keeping in mind that intelligence can be subjective, and concepts like ‘pathfinding’, ‘adaptive programming’, and ‘procedural generation’ are all examples of AI according to the original gaming context). However, as large search providers, along with some less reputable entities, aim to replace human-written content with generated content, it has become increasingly challenging for media outlets. The rise of AI-generated subpar content, or “AI sludge” (a term under consideration for Oxford University Press’s 2024 Word of the Year), is making it more difficult and difficult for outlets to produce high-quality, authentic content that stands out amidst a sea of AI-generated content and the constant churn of larger guide sites. Consequently, many outlets are choosing to focus on creating more human-like content rather than competing against both the low-quality AI-generated content and the overwhelming volume of content from larger guide sites. We’re aligning with this trend as well.

But what of the industry?

It’s been a funny few years, to say the least, and 2024 has been a continuation of a lot of the big challenges that shook up mobile developers, publishers and platforms over 2023.

The implementation of Apple’s privacy sandbox significantly disrupted the way advertising functions, as users indeed tend to choose not to share their data when offered the option. This change in consumer behavior has consequently transformed how targeted ads are delivered and caused a stir in the realm of hypercasual gaming.

The conflict between Epic Games and the Duopoly persisted, paving new paths along the way. Their actions provoked the European Union to seek more regulation and oversight, while also stirring disapproval towards monopolies in 2024, albeit respectful. However, it’s becoming evident that Epic’s crusade for an open ecosystem will be costly over the long term, entailing years of tough, protracted battles. Apple’s opening up in the EU can be considered a victory, but other regional and national authorities may not share the same level of stringency as the EU.

Two weeks ago, Epic achieved an impressive milestone that not many outlets reported: They reached a deal with Telefónica (o2, Movistar, Vivo). Although this is not Epic’s final objective, it allows them to bypass the step of being freely downloadable on all mobile devices. Instead, it will be preinstalled on phones for certain users in the UK and potentially beyond. This agreement extends Epic’s influence, as existing mergers and upcoming deals could involve o2 (and subsequently Epic), with Virgin Media, Vodafone, and Three – major players in the market. While a deal with Telefónica doesn’t guarantee immediate expansion of this preinstalled situation, it does create opportunities, and I anticipate more developments on that front by 2025.

What even is a mobile game?

Back when I was still working in the shops and when Pocket Gamer was in its earliest days, a mobile game had to be downloaded through a semi-contrived series of texting and typing in details. Pocket Gamer ran magazines in a bunch of the UK’s mobile stores which covered how to download them, and which ones were best to grab.

In a span of a few years, we witnessed the emergence of Apple’s and Google’s own App Stores. The internet was blossoming, and mobile technology took giant leaps – providing us with comprehensive web browsers and seamless interaction with our smartphones. Later came APK stores, followed by alternative online markets. However, setting apps aside through sideloading, there has been a noticeable upsurge in streaming services and subscription models recently.

By 2025, games such as Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Infinity Nikki will be simultaneously released for mobile and PC platforms, allowing players to switch seamlessly between devices. Meanwhile, classic mobile games like Clash of Clans and Subway Surfers have made their way onto PC via Google Play Games. I personally enjoy playing Badlanders by NetEase and Rise of Kingdoms by Lilith on both my computer and smartphone.

Next year marks the anticipated debut of Microsoft’s store, initially delayed from its July release this year. In September, the tech titan criticized Apple’s 30% fee, hinting at their upcoming ‘This is an Xbox’ campaign. This campaign suggests that devices ranging from smartphones to PCs (any device with a browser) will be compatible with the Xbox ecosystem.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed an exciting shift in the gaming landscape. While Nintendo continues to explore mobile gaming, Sega has made a bold move by acquiring Rovio, a strategic step that amplifies their presence in this space. Major publishers are also expanding their territories in this arena. To add to the mix, Microsoft isn’t just dabbling anymore; they now own not only Activision and Blizzard, but also King – a significant leap that expands their gaming empire.

A lot of this isn’t new, of course. We’ve been talking about big names getting into mobile for years, but people haven’t really put their finger on the why. It’s not just because mobile is often the battleground for new mechanics and monetisation techniques, but it’s because you can scale mobile up to console, to PC and beyond… scaling PC or console down though… that’s harder.

With platforms like Discord, Netflix, Telegram, The New York Times, and LinkedIn gaining more prominence, backed by Microsoft and others, instant gaming is becoming increasingly popular. This shift in mobile gaming will primarily be driven by those who are part of this ecosystem, leveraging these advanced technologies to spearhead the change.

Once more (i)nto the Breach

Looking at the widely appreciated 2018 turn-based strategy game, Into the Breach, one might notice that we’re stepping into an era where a single screen is all that’s needed to play. It’s available for Switch, iOS and Android, as well as Xbox, Playstation, and PC. This flexibility is made possible through self-publishing and strategic partnerships. More importantly, by casting from your phone, you can enjoy it on anything from a mobile device to a cinema (and perhaps even larger screens if you have a high-quality projector). Of course, you can also play it natively on one of the other devices.

With advancements in technology, making your handheld device more intelligent and potent, it seems increasingly likely that it will gradually replace traditional gaming platforms like consoles, although we might not witness this complete transition by 2025. Instead, what intrigues us at Pocket Gamer is the impact of devices such as Steam Deck on high-end, financially robust publishers to establish a standard ‘minimum’ specification similar to console generations. This could potentially boost the popularity of mobile game development within mainstream circles.

As 2024 draws near its end, it’s been a rollercoaster ride, but the horizon is filled with optimism and intrigue. Perhaps we never outgrew the uncharted territories of creativity in our field, and now is the moment to wholeheartedly reclaim that spirit, particularly within the dynamic realm of mobile technology.

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2024-12-28 02:48