Only a decade ago, gaming was going through something of a tough period. But that’s changed, as newer trends brought the industry back from the dead. Today, the video game industry is booming. In 2020, it was valued at an impressive 162 billion USD, and it’s been estimated that that number will reach 300 billion USD by the year 2026. That’s close to 100% growth in only six years.
Gaming hasn’t just grown in terms of players, but also options. Today, players can enjoy all kinds of online games, such as slot games, which they can play safely on this online casino. Then there’s e-sports, another sub-industry of gaming that has really taken off. But what is the main reason behind the industry’s’ enormous growth? If you guessed ‘technology’, you’d be right. So what are some of the most influential technological advancements seen by the industry over the past few years? Here are five tech trends expected to impact the gaming industry in 2022.
Game Streaming on the Rise
Streaming websites such as Facebook Gaming, YouTube Gaming, Hitbox, and Twitch have greatly increased in popularity over the past five years, as a result of higher Internet speeds. This has introduced a new way for gamers to profit from their activities. They can stream their gaming directly to their followers and earn through subscriptions, donations, and ads. Previously, gamers were clueless when it came to gaming monetisation.
AR and VR Now in the Mainstream
While there are plenty of quality VR games without AI technology, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality enjoy a close relationship. Gamers with VR gaming consoles can play AR-based games and applications on them. And an increasing number of developers are now getting involved in AR/VR app development. One game that is based solely on AR/VR that has proven to be enormously popular is Pokemon Go, with its more than one billion downloads.
Arena Tournaments Now Online
There’s another major shift in the e-gaming industry due to COVID. Tournaments used to be held in arenas, but now they’re taking place in people’s homes. This has resulted in a higher number of these tournaments. Audiences were shelling out $100 to watch a live tournament, but are now paying just $10. This reduction in price allows more people to join in, as it’s impossible for attendance to max out.
Cloud Computing Enabling MMPORGs
Such cloud gaming services as Unlimited Games Mo and Stadia have introduced a way for gamers to enjoy MMPORGs online with family and friends. These services enable you to play the very latest games on your existing gaming systems, as they don’t require power from your system to work. The games are run by cloud servers and RDPs, so you only need a decent Internet connection. While there’s a fee for the subscription, it’s negligible.
Game Distribution Models are Changing
Distribution models and gaming monetisation models change, with gamers no longer relying solely on Apple and Google Play stores. Gamers can now download apps through their websites directly. This occurred as a result of Apple and Google removing apps with third-party monetisation models from their stores.
Moves like these have forced gamers to seek alternative delivery methods, which they’re managing to find. There’s also an increase in popularity of third-party application stores like 1Mobile marketplace, Amazon App Store, Samsung Mobille App Store, and 9Mobille.
Conclusion
These are just some of the trends that will continue to emerge in 2022. You can expect their implications to go beyond that, as other technologies improve and others are born. These trends will change the industry’s dynamics as a whole, with the gaming industry continuing to benefit.
Leave a Reply