With the relatively recent release of the latest generation of gaming consoles, it’s easy to make the argument that these systems are at the forefront of the industry. The idea of purchasing an Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and/or Nintendo Wii U is only going to become more enticing this year with all the games that are on the way. Really, it’s impossible to gauge at this point which system of those three will emerge the winner this time around, though chances are it’ll be the Xbox or PS4. But will that console be the ultimate winner in terms of gaming as a whole? Now that is an interesting question.

As made evident on this site’s iPhone section, there is a lot to consider when it comes to mobile gaming. Up until just a few years ago even, the idea of playing gaming on your phone felt like another way to pass the time between meetings, classes, and other activities. I mean, who over the age of 25 can’t remember firing up their old phone to play Snake? But those days are, for the most part, entirely behind us.

Smartphones clearly have become so advanced that they’re essentially mini-computers sitting in our pockets. Photos can now be edited within a few swipes; documents can be read, amended, and created (if you can stand the tiny keyboards); and games can be played to the point where they make you wonder if that console was really worth it. OK, that’s a dramatic thought—or is it? According to this article posted at Verizon, there are multiple ways (both wired and wireless) that you can see everyone on your phone on your TV. That way you could, for example, fire up a hot new game like Jungle Rumble (check out the footage below) and play it on your phone/TV at the same time.

Just in case you’re reading this and thinking to yourself, “OK, well, mobile gaming is still just a fad and can’t compete with consoles,” then it’s time to think again. According to reports from Venture Beat, the revenue that stands to be made in the mobile sect will have a significant impact on the gaming world at large. If all goes according to plan, mobile gaming will drive the entire gaming software revenue totals to $100 billion by 2017. Additionally, it’s been “said the mobile and online game sectors could grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23.6 percent to $60 billion by 2017.” Astounding. And for reference, mobile gaming revenues in the U.S. alone hit $1.78 billion in 2013.

On top of all this, it will be nothing short of interesting to see how mobile developers continue to adapt to the changing technology. With video game consoles, you get a good five to seven years (at least!) to get everything down and truly harness the strength of a system. But with new phones constantly arriving—the iPhone 5 came out barely three years later than its predecessor—it can be difficult to keep up take advantage of the tech. That being said, we should all get ready for some seriously impressive on-the-go gaming experiences in the next few years.