Mobile Gaming: Innovation In Action | Seeking Alpha

Video game publishers and related gaming companies have excelled at identifying and leveraging emerging technologies as new platforms to distribute their games. Mobile gaming encapsulates this phenomenon.

Gaming revenues can be segmented by different platforms that represent how consumers access and play the game. The first widely available video game platform was the arcade, which was then followed by personal computers (PC) and consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation.

Mobile gaming represents both the largest platform by revenues and the fastest growing one. Since 2015, mobile revenues have grown at an annualized rate of 22%, outpacing the total gaming revenues growth rate of 15%.

Mobile Is the Largest and Fastest Growing Gaming Platform

Revenues reflect Global Digital Gaming Revenues. Source: SuperData, a Nielsen Company. Data as of 2019.

Prior to the iPhone’s release in 2007, mobile did not exist as a category for gaming platforms. Rudimentary games like Snake and Tetris were available on early cell phones, but the invention of the iPhone created a new category of games out of thin air. Mobile apps have become synonymous with the mobile phone experience, and mobile games are some of the most popular and widely downloaded apps available to consumers.

Strong Demand from Emerging Markets Consumers

Game publishers and developers are catering to emerging markets consumers by releasing “Lite” versions of games, which can run on phones with less processing power (i.e., cheaper phones that are more accessible to emerging market consumers). This broadens the reach of a specific title by making the game more accessible to consumers who might not be able to afford the fastest, best mobile phones.

Emerging markets consumers are driving revenues for publishers and gaming companies focused on those areas of the world. Consumers from China and Southeast Asia are generating massive revenues from mobile gaming. By and large, emerging markets companies are the ones who are profiting from this mobile gaming boom in emerging markets countries.

Let’s use China’s mobile market as an example. According to some estimates, mobile game revenues in China were $15.6B in 2018.1 All of the top 10 most popular mobile game titles were published by the same two Chinese companies: Tencent (OTCPK:TCEHY) and NetEase (NASDAQ:NTES). China is unique in that the government has to approve any new games that are released, which creates a bias towards domestic Chinese publishing companies. However, other companies are also tapping into domestic consumer demand in these markets.

Singapore-based powerhouse Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is another company dominating the emerging markets mobile game marketplace. Sea’s Garena Free Fire is a massively popular mobile battle royale game among users concentrated in Southeast Asia and Brazil. Sea has focused almost exclusively on gaining marketshare within emerging markets countries, and this strategy appears to be paying off. Garena Free Fire was the third most-downloaded mobile game app in Google Play in Q1 of 2020, and according to Sea, 80 million people are considered DAU (daily active users). Sea’s revenues primarily come from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and other Southeast Asia countries.

Mobile Gaming in the Current Environment

Video gaming stocks have weathered the volatility in 2020 extremely well. Mobile gaming may even provide further protection for publishers.

Newzoo has identified three reasons why mobile gaming revenue growth will continue to surpass both console and PC in the current market environment as many businesses remain closed.

Investing in Gaming and Esports

Determining which games will become hits is difficult, and investors may wish to invest in a diversified basket of gaming and esports stocks. Such an approach may allow investors to express a view on the sector without having to know which specific stock will outperform over the future. The index methodology which guides VanEck Vectors® Video Gaming and eSports ETF (NASDAQ:ESPO) provides exposure to companies in the video gaming and esports industries.

Currently, the Global Video Gaming and eSports Index is heavily tilted towards game publishers (including the publicly traded companies that operate the largest esports leagues) and semiconductor companies. As the esports industry matures, smaller esports names, such as streamers like HUYA and Modern Times Group, could grow to become a meaningful part of the Index. In the interim, the Index captures the esports phenomenon as part of the broader evolution of video gaming, creating awareness of the industry’s potential to reshape how people spend their time and entertainment dollars.

This material is for informational purposes only. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are valid as of the date of this communication and are subject to change without notice. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck.

This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any of the companies mentioned herein. Fund holdings will vary. For a complete list of holdings in the ETF, please click here https://www.vaneck.com/etf/equity/espo/holdings/.

Indices are unmanaged and are not securities in which an investment can be made. Index returns do not reflect a deduction for fees & expenses. Certain indices may take into account withholding taxes.

MVIS Global Video Gaming and eSports Index is the exclusive property of MVIS® (a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation), which has contracted with Solactive AG to maintain and calculate the Index. Solactive AG uses its best efforts to ensure that the Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards MV Index Solutions GmbH, Solactive AG has no obligation to point out errors in the Index to third parties. The VanEck Vectors Video Gaming and eSports ETF is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by MV Index Solutions GmbH and MV Index Solutions GmbH makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Fund.

An investment in the Fund may be subject to risks which include, among others, investing in the video gaming and esports companies, software, internet software & services and semiconductor industries, equity securities, communication services and information technology sectors, small- and medium-capitalization companies, issuer-specific changes, special risk considerations of investing in Asian, Japanese and emerging markets issuers, foreign securities, foreign currency, depositary receipts, market, operational, cash transactions, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount risk and liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified, and concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Foreign investments are subject to risks, which include changes in economic and political conditions, foreign currency fluctuations, changes in foreign regulations, and changes in currency exchange rates which may negatively impact the Fund’s returns. Small- and medium-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a , which contain this and other information, call or visit . Please read the carefully before investing.

Editor’s Note: The summary bullets for this article were chosen by Seeking Alpha editors.

Editor’s Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.