Mobile gaming has come a long way since the introduction of simple, crude games like Snake and Pong that were available on the first Nokia phones. Mobile graphics and processors are now as powerful as desktop computers were just a few years ago. Older generations still remember lugging around a Game Boy or Game Gear and begging their parents for another game. The new generations literally have access to hundreds of thousands of games on their mobile device.

In short, mobile gaming has exploded in just a few years. In the month of July 2016, 63.1 million arcade games were downloaded and games in the “strategy” category generated revenue of $ 195 million. In a recent study, more than 37% of mobile app users with 30 minutes of free time choose to play games over any other activity. We’ve all seen it and we’ve all seen it ourselves, whether it’s waiting for a date or sitting at the airport, we whip out our mobile device and jump into a quick game to kill time.

So what does all this mean for the future of Android gaming? For starters, huge amounts of revenue and user interest in Android games have fueled continuous innovation and fierce competition in the global marketplace. For example, just 12 months ago, top executives said they didn’t see any major benefits in augmented reality. With the launch of Pokémon Go and estimates citing revenue of up to $ 500 million in just 60 days, I think we can all agree that augmented reality is here to stay.

Virtual reality is another area that has gained momentum in recent months. Now you can buy virtual reality headsets at local gas stations for just $ 30. Or if you’re on a budget, you can buy Google Cardboard for as little as $ 7.00. There are still only a limited number of VR-enabled games, but that number is increasing daily. Not only that, as more and more people experience virtual reality, we are sure that sooner or later we will see a hugely successful launch.

Let’s take a look at some real life examples from recent game releases. Dawn of Titans, which recently launched on Google Play, was in development for over 2 years. This is similar to the development cycle for a mid-level PC game release on Steam. The game features mass controlled troops, world building elements, and stunning graphics. A few years ago, this would be considered a major release for the Android platform. These days, this is just another drop in the huge pond. With more than 2.4 million applications and games currently listed on Google Play, it is becoming increasingly difficult to stand out. This is actually good news for gamers, as developers are working harder and faster to create innovative new titles to attract users.

I firmly believe that both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) titles will gain more traction in 2017. Top developers who can generate triple-A content cannot be left behind as indie developers pump out AR and VR-enabled Games. . They will be forced to port existing titles and discover new and exciting ways to interact with mobile devices.

There are many nifty games available that use your phone’s microphone, gyroscope, camera, and accelerometer. However, these sensors combined with AR and VR could bring a completely new experience to gamers. Imagine walking through a recreated 3D world depicting your neighborhood, immersed in full virtual reality, and using your phone as a targeting device to defend against waves of zombies. This is already possible with the technology available, it just needs to be packaged in a user-friendly way that people can enjoy.

Combining meticulous graphics with well thought out VR experiences would be truly impressive. If you’re familiar with PC-based VR demos, you already know how immersive the experience can be. It is only a matter of time before these same experiences reach our mobile devices en masse. And to think, only 30 years ago we were playing Mario on our beloved Nintendo consoles. Not to mention the Virtual Boy who burned your eyes after 2 minutes of playing tennis. Android games and mobile games in general have come a long way since then and will continue to push barriers even further in the near future.