The esports boom of the 2020s is showing no sign of slowing as we move into 2023. This global market, which surpassed a net worth of $1 billion in 2020, is on track to break $3 billion by 2028. The widespread appeal and appetite for competitive gaming are understandable given the scale of the modern games industry – the largest media sector in the world – and its emergence as a mainstream concern was always considered an inevitability. Now, uses of wager offers, such as those provided by leading odds comparison platforms, are redeemed on headline esports events just as they are conventional legacy sports tournaments and matches. In fact, the global market for esports betting is projected to enjoy a continual CAGR of 13.7% up to 2028, bringing it to a projected valuation of $2.4 billion.
And while the out-and-out success of leading PC-based esports such as CS:GO and League of Legends are, at present, driving this growth, the increasing relevance and importance of mobile-optimized esports are destined to assume the mantle, before long accelerating the industry’s wider penetration into the traditional sporting territory.
It’s easy to understand why. Smartphone ownership globally sits at around 86% of the total population. That’s far higher than the number of gamers who own modern PC hardware capable of running the latest titles. PC gaming is likely to remain a niche market, given the high cost of components.
Information Use !!
Concerned about online trackers and introducers tracing your internet activity? Or do you face geo-restrictions while streaming? Get NordVPN - the ultra-fast VPN trusted by millions, which is available at 69% off + 3 Months Extra. With the Double VPN, Split tunneling, and Custom DNS, you can experience internet freedom anytime, anywhere.
Already, mobile esports, from PUBG Mobile to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, are beginning to displace ‘classic’ competitive games in the viewer and download rankings, and this trend will only continue towards the end of the decade.
With such an appetite for mobile competitive gaming out there, more people than ever are eager to get involved in mobile gaming. However, limitations inherent in the average smartphone mean it can be difficult for serious players to make much headway. That is, without some optimizations.
Those with the funds to spare would best invest in a dedicated gaming smartphone, such as the Nubia RedMagic, Asus ROG Phone or Lenovo Legion Duel – but this route is not for everyone. There are, however, some simple gadgets and methods that any would-be mobile gamer can invest in and employ in order to get much better gaming performance out of their device.
Cooling
Modern devices are exceedingly thin and lightweight, which gives them a pleasing appearance and makes them comfortable to carry. But there’s a trade-off – by compressing all their components into a small space, smartphones are thermally inefficient compared to laptops, PCs, and consoles.
Gaming, which is a resource-hungry task, often causes phones to overheat, which can, in turn, result in a loss of performance through thermal throttling. To get around this, consider investing in an attachable external fan, like the Black Shark FunCooler 3 Pro. This works in much the same way as the fans in your Xbox or PC, drawing heat away from your device and keeping it within its optimal performance window.
Controls
Smartphones are designed with touch inputs in mind. While this is great for scrolling through Instagram, it can be terrible for gaming. Not only do your thumbs obscure your view when using on-screen controls, but you also lack tactical feedback and precision when playing.
Fortunately, there are many affordable controller peripherals that you can attach to your phone in order to replicate the experience of using a console gamepad. Many of the games you’ll be playing are optimized for this type of controller layout, so they play better this way. And, of course, your reaction times and accuracy will significantly improve by using such an add-on.
Efficiency
Smartphones perform a huge number of tasks, often in the form of background processes you’re not consciously aware of. However, each task places additional strain on your CPU, RAM, and battery life. These can result in hampered performance when gaming, resulting in frame-rate drops or even unexpected crashes.
To ensure your device is ready for gaming, regularly clear its hard drive cache of extraneous files, uninstall unwanted apps, and set it to ‘Do Not Disturb’ when playing. All of these steps, while individually small, will cumulatively result in a better gameplay experience.
Disclosure: If we like a product or service, we might refer them to our readers via an affiliate link, which means we may receive a referral commission from the sale if you buy the product that we recommended, read more about that in our affiliate disclosure.