On November 15th, 2023, Sony released the PlayStation Portal, almost three years to the day of the successful PlayStation 5 release. This was done in response to Nintendo Switch, which has seen an enormous amount of success since its launch in 2017. Overall, the Nintendo Switch is the third best-selling gaming system of all time. While the PlayStation 2 sold 155 million units, and the Nintendo DS sold 152.02 million, the Nintendo Switch has so far sold 132.46 million, proving an almost universal sentiment by gamers: convenience and accessibility will always win out over hardware. This could have been proved far earlier, however. Ever since the first iPhone was released in 2007, smartphone users have been utilising their phones as gaming devices. This has mostly been prominent in the iGaming industry, where millions of people play real money games ( ألعاب كازينو لربح المال الحقيقي ) every day. One of the key draws to this industry is convenience, accessibility, and variety.

According to recent statistics:

According to recent statistics, over 80 million more people began playing at online casinos in the last four years alone; and this number is only set to grow – the global online gaming market is predicted to reach nearly $160 billion by 2030. Players have always loved the idea of playing their favourite games from the comfort of their own phone; to the point where wired consoles have almost become outdated – no matter how impressive their hardware might be. The PlayStation Portal is attempting to tap into this, just as the Nintendo Switch has done. But as more platform developers look to draw in an on-the-go audience; it appears that they may already have been beaten.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max as the Ultimate Gaming Device

In September, Apple released the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Pro and Pro Max models are able to natively run AAA gaming titles including Resident Evil: Village, Death Stranding, and games like Assassin’s Creed: Mirage and Resident Evil 4 are also set to become available in the future. This is a big step for the gaming world. As mentioned before, smartphone users are already using their phones as an iGaming platform; but it has never been possible to smoothly and effectively play AAA games. They had to be left for the consoles to run, or the Nintendo Switch; – which is why the Switch has seen massive success. With the new iPhone however, the ultimate gaming device may have been born. With the latest mobile chipset, the A17 Pro Bionic, the hardware of the iPhone 15 is the strongest and most powerful yet, making these games run just in the same way they would on any other platform. These are not mobile ports, either. The AAA games that are playable on iPhone are straight ports of the games, meaning the visual fidelity; and gameplay features do not substantially differ from the originals.

A New Gaming Future

While the Nintendo Switch has been successful over the last six years; its days may be numbered, and so too might the days of the younger PlayStation Portal. In terms of the Portal, problems have already been recognised by players; including the need for strong WiFi connectivity to play games. For the Switch, it might fade out due to one simple fact: it isn’t a phone. The best thing about the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is that they are an ‘everything-device’. Not only can you play AAA games, you can also scroll social media; make calls, surf the web, or listen to music, all in the space of a few seconds. In other words, it is more convenient to use a gaming device that is also a phone; rather than carry around a device specific for gaming. Despite the Nintendo Switch’s and the PlayStation Portal’s qualities, neither can be kept in the user’s pocket. Nor would anyone use them if they could attain the exact same experience with a more convenient, accessible device. As for whether this will turn out to be the case, we will all have to wait and see. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max experience is not without its flaws, including touch-screen limitations; and we’re a long way off having every AAA game ready and available for playing on smartphones. But with the success of this new iPhone and the gaming capabilities that the chip provides; a new gaming future is certainly being paved, and the views are certainly attractive on this side of the road.