The Pitfalls Of Mobile Gaming — Things You Need To Know

In just a few years, mobile gaming has gone from an inferior choice to a competitive option. It’s amazing how much we, as humans, value comfort and work tirelessly to achieve it. Gaming everywhere and at your ease is the new norm, as even consoles and PCs are opting for handheld structures now. What separates this from the past is that we have hardware capable enough to run games very close to the big machines’ level.

This shift towards handheld gaming benefits mobile devices significantly, which now come equipped with competent hardware and are capable of running high-profile games. More and more big-budget games are making their way to mobile platforms, and the industry is booming. However, don’t forget that mobile gaming carries with it certain problems, which, depending on your preferences, can even be a deal breaker. Let’s take a look at some of these.

Downgrades, Monetization, And Ads Galore

Not everyone can spare the time or the expense to dive into console or PC gaming, and that’s perfectly understandable. However, mobile is something everyone has access to in this digital era, and sometimes you just want to relax and play some games in the palm of your hand. However, before you decide to choose a mobile as your primary gaming device, there are some things you should know.

For starters, many games released on mobile devices today are multi-platform. This means they also release for other platforms, and generally look and perform a lot better on those. If you’re a fellow gacha enthusiast like me, this point is for you. Consider games like Genshin Impact or Wuthering Waves. These big-profile games are all visually more stunning and more smooth on consoles and PCs.

Next up, we have the horrible monetization and ads situation of mobile games. These are the primary source of earning for mobile titles, and it’s acceptable in moderation, but some mobile games take things a little too far. You’re essentially locked out of further progress unless you pay the piper, and most of the time, the pricing is just not worth it. Couple that with almost consistent mobile ads, and it becomes a chore unless you pay.

Predatory monetization in mobile gaming will keep getting worse until the backlash comes
byu/mankosmash4 inKotakuInAction

Mobile Gaming: Your Private Data Isn’t Safe

Speaking of ads, my next point is even more critical. Ever wondered why some ads feel a little too relevant? That’s because your personal data is free real estate when you’re connected to the internet. In fact, even mobile gaming is a major source of data leaks and information gathering to feed targeted ads and marketing campaigns. While you’re enjoying your game, your data is being monitored.

Data collection and privacy concerns go hand in hand with the digital world, and are not limited to mobile gaming only. However, any sort of data collection from your mobile is a lot more concerning than other sources, as all other devices are only for specialized purposes, while your mobile is a personal device and a lot more sensitive. These mobile games may be looking at your location, playing habits, kind of phone you use, and games you enjoy, and more.

Mobile game I've had for months decided to force all new and existing users to agree to have their data harvested
byu/Oreo365 inassholedesign

Tools like Google’s Firebase, Facebook Analytics, and various third-party SDKs (software development kits) are a common part of a mobile game’s design, put there to track player behavior, app usage, crash logs, and other metrics. This means every game, from unknown to renowned, is tracking your data. It’s usually part of all those permissions and policies you just agree to without reading, since you want to get to the game part quickly.

What is the purpose and possible consequences of this data collection? Well, it’s mostly done to study your behavior patterns and likes to show more effective, targeted ads. However, that’s not the only problem. Online gaming, where your connection is exposed, makes you vulnerable to a targeted DDoS attack and some serious consequences.

Why A VPN Is Important Today For Mobile Gaming

If you’re a fan of PUBG Mobile and constantly play the popular online game with your friends or strangers and are not taking some security measures against this data leak, you seriously need to consider doing so. Online games are a frequent source of data leaks, which is why you need to be prepared. Many PUBG Mobile players are opting for a VPN these days, affectionately called a PUBG VPN, because it has become the need of the hour.

A VPN has become a necessity, not a luxury, in this digital era, and not just for gaming. Games aren’t the only source of data collection and privacy violations. Whenever you’re insecurely browsing the internet, you’re practically inviting an attack. Which is why I always recommend a VPN these days.

What does it do? For starters, a VPN hides your IP address, preventing location tracking, encrypts your internet traffic by scrambling it, and above all, protects your data when you’re on pubic Wi-Fi. These are just some of the general-purpose benefits, but there’s a lot more to it, especially for gamers.

Having a VPN lets you stay secure in online gaming, while also boosting your latency and connection speeds. It lets you bypass region restrictions, access the servers of your choice without any drawbacks, and above all, keep your personal data encrypted. 

Conclusion

Mobile gaming is a rapidly growing industry, and it’s only going to get bigger in the future. The world as a whole is starting to prefer handheld gaming, and mobile will be a key platform from here on. Which is exactly why we need to understand the risks. While there’s nothing we, as consumers, can do much about visual downgrades or microtransactions, we can at least make the effort to encrypt our personal data as much as we can.

Playing games on a handheld is helping me enjoy them more
byu/steelersrock01 inpatientgamers

Digital safety is no joke, especially in current times, where practically the whole world is running on the Internet. Every era comes with its own set of problems, and we need to be prepared. Whether you’re a mobile gamer, a PC or console gamer, or even someone from a whole different field of life who constantly uses the internet, it’s time to beef up your security and avoid any unexpected accidents.