Worldwide revenue from tablet games is expected to more than triple by 2019 as mobile devices see improvements in graphics and storage capabilities and as more gamers seek the convenience of tablets over PCs, Juniper Research said.
Juniper predicted that revenue from tablet games will reach $13.3 billion, up from $3.6 billion this year. Juniper forecast that total mobile gaming revenue this year will be $20.9 billion.
More device makers are looking to gain from this trend by offering gaming-focused tablets, such as Nvidia's Shield Tablet , which was unveiled in June, and the Razer Edge , which was introduced last year.
Juniper argued that improved performance and graphics on tablet games is leading to a migration from traditional portable gaming devices, such as the PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS. Still, Juniper said it doesn't believe that trend will lead to the end of the market for portable gaming devices, saying dedicated gaming hardware will continue to captivate a niche audience.
As broadband penetration grows and as mobile gaming becomes more commonplace, game developers will have to work harder to gain attention for their new offerings. Juniper said that in marketplaces containing over 1 million apps, independent game developers will need to raise more funding to advertise their games, with crowdfunding expected to become an increasingly popular option.