A new study suggests that their large screen sizes and impressive graphics will make tablets a growing force in mobile games. Specifically, Juniper Research predicts total end-user revenue from
tablet games will grow to $3.1 billion by 2014, up from $491 million in 2011.
In four years, tablets will account for more than a third of all mobile game revenue. ‘The tablet is the
perfect device for playing mobile games -- the screens are large enough for the user to see the action, no matter how big their hands are,” noted Juniper analyst and study author Charlotte
Miller.
Because tablets are expensive items, typically retailing for about $500, owners also tend to have higher disposable income than the general smartphone user. They often spend more on
game downloads and on in-game items than other consumer segments.
Juniper projects that social and casual games will drive the bulk of mobile game downloads overall. And because of the
proliferation of smartphones and tablets, game revenue on feature phones will be cut in half by 2016.
-- Mark Walsh