Christian Lövstedt, CEO of Midjiwan AB, has penned an open letter addressing the global games industry, asserting that mobile games and their creators are consistently overlooked. The letter, shared on LinkedIn, emphasizes that mobile gaming constitutes 55% of the global gaming market, making it one of the most played and profitable platforms. Despite this, it is often disregarded and viewed negatively, primarily due to a widespread perception of “predatory monetization and low quality.”
This critique follows the recent BAFTA longlist announcement, which featured only one mobile-first title, Monumental Valley 3. Lövstedt further noted that D.I.C.E., an awards body generally more receptive to mobile gaming, has only twice nominated a mobile game for Game of the Year: Angry Birds HD and Pokémon Go. These nominations were unique to D.I.C.E., despite the considerable commercial and cultural impact of both titles.
Lövstedt expressed that initial optimism for mobile games grew when BAFTA removed platform-specific awards, but this change ultimately led to mobile titles being almost entirely ignored. He stressed that awards and media play a crucial role in defining what is considered culturally or creatively valuable within the industry.
The letter concludes by challenging the industry to acknowledge its largest and most creative platform. It suggests that if innovation and creativity are truly valued, they should be celebrated across all platforms where players engage. The industry faces a choice: embrace mobile gaming or continue to narrow its definition of “real gaming.”
