As the Industry Turns Handheld, Will All Games Have to Be Ready to be Played on Smaller Screens?

In recent years, you may have noticed, as I have, that there has been a huge shift in the digital entertainment sector towards mobile. In other words, more people than ever, myself included, prefer video gaming on the go.

The entire industry is rapidly pivoting to handheld because a growing number of people see desktop computers, laptops, and consoles like PlayStations and Xboxes as too clunky, restrictive, and, in some cases, too expensive.

Bigger hardware is static, meaning it can't easily be moved around, so there's less freedom when playing traditionally.

Mobiles have become a more convenient choice for people like me, who enjoy playing our favourite titles in their spare time because they allow us to play from just about any location and directly from the palm of our hands.

Although triple-A, hardcore gaming never initially took off, the demand for high-quality mobile games has massively increased in recent years, which has driven significant technological advancements in the industry. However, numerous blockbuster titles are still not yet available on mobile.

The question I will be answering here is: as the industry turns handheld, will all games have to be ready to be played on smaller screens?

Let's take a closer look right here.

Why is the Digital Entertainment Sector Shifting to Mobile?

The industry is shifting more towards mobile for several reasons, but mainly because playing digital content from a Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone, tablet or dedicated handheld device like a Nintendo Switch, Valve Steam Deck, or ASUS ROG Ally is now considered the most convenient way to play.

I find that handheld devices offer unparalleled accessibility. Also, with widespread mobile adoption across the globe, more people than ever can enjoy playing their favourite titles on their smartphones with relative ease.

They also now have access to a much larger selection of titles to play, with new content being released almost daily, meaning there's always something new to look forward to.

Companies are beginning to optimize their hit titles for all the major mobile devices so they run smoothly but also look great on smaller screens.

Key Reasons why so Many People are Choosing Mobile Over PC/Console Gaming in 2025

Besides the obvious benefits [convenience and easier access to thousands of titles] that mobiles and other cutting-edge handheld devices bring, here are several other reasons why I think more people than ever are choosing to play on mobile rather than from their PC or console, and why tech giants and industry leaders are responding to demand and pivoting to handheld devices with smaller screens:

• Advancements in mobile technology – today's smartphones and dedicated handheld devices are more powerful than ever and capable of handling some of the world's most graphically demanding, high-end content. They have more robust CPUs and GPUs, which allows developers to churn out more complex and visually stunning titles
• Monetization strategies = increased revenue – companies have found that it's easy to implement services and features that allow for in-app or on-site purchases. Microtransactions, for example, allow people like me to deposit real money in an instant to buy in-game credits/currency, skins, access to higher levels, weapons, loot boxes, and other items, which generates significant revenue for the companies involved
• App stores – thanks to online app stores like Google Play and Apple's App Store, companies can easily distribute their latest offerings, and people can easily purchase them in a few simple steps, all from within a securely encrypted digital environment
• Broader audience – handheld/mobile is appealing to a broader audience of gamers who aren't particularly interested in playing on a PC or traditional console

Which Other Factors Have Led to a Surge in People Preferring to Play From Handheld/Mobile Devices?

A few years ago, the mobile/handheld technology just wasn't good enough. Internet speeds were also much slower than today, and other things like live streaming capabilities, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and computer programming languages/software used to develop games were nowhere near as good as they are today, meaning the mobile sector wasn't an appealing destination for gamers.

The rapid evolution of these technologies in recent years has helped take the handheld entertainment sector to extraordinary new heights. They have completely revolutionized this sector and will continue to shape it in more ways than one over the coming years.

Will iGaming Content also be Made to Work Well on Smaller Devices?

Yes. I've also noticed how my favourite live dealer blackjack and roulette titles (and online fruit machines) look fantastic on mobile.

All of the featured sites that have been suggested to me in recent years by the experts on the official askgamblers.com review site have been fully optimized to work well on pretty much any modern iOS, Android, Windows and Huawei smartphone and tablet device.

However, most of the apps I have downloaded and installed for free onto my device to play a wide range of content are typically only optimized for iOS and Android devices.

If you're aged 18 or above and decide to play on a legally permitted website with fruit machines, blackjack, poker, roulette, craps, and baccarat, etc., the best advice I can give is to always gamble responsibly by setting as many safer gambling tools as possible from the moment you sign up anywhere.

Final Thoughts

For companies to be successful these days, they must ensure their digital content is fully optimized for all modern handheld and mobile devices and that they are released on mobile on the same day they are released on PCs and/or consoles.

In other words, developers must ensure that the latest releases are always ready to be played on much smaller screens, not just the big screen, especially as the industry is shifting towards this way of playing.