The gaming industry has come a long way since its humble beginnings. When Atari introduced its first console back in the 70s, nobody expected that in 40 years’ time, video games would shape the world, blurring the line between fantasy and reality.
Even a few years back, many people believed that the video game boom would fade. They couldn’t be more wrong.
In 2019 alone, the gaming industry generated $120 billion in revenue, and as experts predict, that number will reach $200 billion by the end of 2021.
Even the pandemic couldn’t have stopped the growth, with games like Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, or The Last of Us Part II giving players everything they could’ve wished for. And don’t forget about the introduction of next-gen consoles.
Moreover, considering that more people have to stay in homes, cinemas remain closed, and governments forbid us to travel, the number of players is growing.
But the video game industry wouldn’t have been where it’s now without new technologies. Nowadays, game developers can provide players with an unbelievably intense gaming experience.
And when you look at how quickly our world is changing, it’s video games that are likely to benefit the most out of new tech solutions. What are the examples? Keep reading to find out.
Artificial Intelligence in Video Games
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used in gaming for a long time, primarily to control non-playable characters (NPCs). It doesn’t matter whether it’s a ghost in Pac-Man, Nazis in Wolfenstein, or the poor citizens in the GTA franchise. They’re all AI.
While it will definitely be more advanced in the future, game developers don’t want to make NPCs too autonomous. Why? Because it would ruin the experience for a player.
But AI in gaming is used for much more. For instance, developers have recently turned their attention to the AI voice generator. It will allow companies to save money on hiring real actors and generate more sounds.
It will also give gamers the opportunity to choose how they want to sound in a game during character customization. That would make a game more fun and intense, providing a player with an unforgettable experience.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) technology was supposed to turn the industry upside down. Well, it didn’t, at least not yet. Don’t get us wrong, VR games are super fun, but they prove that there’s still a long time before developers provide us with the experience we all dream about.
What’s interesting, gaming isn’t the only industry that sees the potential of Virtual Reality technology. Companies like Facebook or Google have invested a load of money in developing VR based games and hardware.
Still, despite these investments, VR remains a niche category. Why? That’s an excellent question.
What’s holding VR technology back is the equipment it requires to work. Most VR headsets are uncomfortable to wear. They’re heavy, and you’ll feel exhausted after an hour of playing.
Companies are doing everything they can to make the VR equipment more user-friendly. As of today, though, there still hasn’t been a breakthrough.
Augmented Reality
Do you remember 2016? Because of 2020, it may seem like a distant past, but you probably remember people suddenly storming the streets. A sudden urge to go on a walk? Nope. Niantic introduced Pokemon Go.
Back in summer 2016, the world went crazy for Pokemon. People all worldwide were walking around, trying to catch imaginary creatures using their phones. And even though the Pokemon mania didn’t last long, the game showed the power of augmented reality (AR).
It’s hard to say that Pokemon Go has changed or reshaped the industry. Moreover, it wasn’t even the first app to use AR. What the game achieved was the popularization of AR technology.
In fact, since 2016, geo-based AR has been developing much faster than VR. Why? Because it’s a blend of the virtual world and the real one. Thanks to AR, you can feel more engaged, and you can see everything through your smartphone, which makes playing much more convenient.
Mobile Gaming
As mentioned before, the gaming industry generated a staggering $120 billion in revenue back in 2019. But do you know what types of gaming accumulated more than half of that sum?
Is it computer gaming? Consoles? No, dear reader. The answer is mobile gaming. Its revenue in 2019 was $64.4 billion, which is more than computer and consoles combined.
Once you take a deep breath and think about it, you’ll see that it’s a hundred percent logical.
According to Statista, there were 3.8 billion smartphone users worldwide back in 2020. Considering that more than half of them have at least one game on their phone, everything adds up perfectly.
What’s the reason for such popularity?
Let us answer the question with another one riddle. What is the first thing you reach for when you’re bored? This time the answer is much easier, it’s your mobile phone. That’s the reason why mobile games have become so popular.
What’s more, with the introduction of 5G and further smartphone technology development, these numbers will grow. Soon, we’ll all be able to play games that are great not only in gameplay but also in graphics.
For this reason, Riot Games have released League of Legends: Wild Rift for Android and iOS so that millions of gamers can play on their mobile devices for their favorite champions such as Nasus, Aatrox and Jinx.
All you’ll need to do is reach out to your pocket.
Online Gaming
Do you remember the times when you had to split-screen on your PS1 console to play together with your friend? Online gaming changed it all. Today, you’re able to connect with millions of other gamers worldwide and play with them whenever you want.
Online games have been on the rise for many years now. Games like League of Legends, War of Warcraft, or Overwatch are massive hits that connect hundreds of million users.
In fact, there aren’t many traditional single-player games left. Almost every game has to come with an online gaming mode, and with further internet development, the number of online games is likely to grow.
High-Fidelity Graphics
Once upon a time, gamers didn’t care about the graphics. All that counted was gameplay and entertainment. Nowadays, though, a game developer shouldn’t try to introduce a product without high-quality graphics.
The only problem is that graphic development is so fast that even developers find it challenging to keep up with the trends. Need proof? Revisit a 10-year-old game that you loved. Let’s say Batman: Arkham City.
Back in 2011, it was a beautiful game, probably one of the best games of its generation. Now, compare it with The Witcher 3 from 2015. There’s a four-year gap between them, and the difference in graphic quality is enormous.
Now let’s look at The Last of Us Part II and compare it with The Witcher 3. The difference, once again, is immense. Well, maybe it’s a slight exaggeration, but you get the picture.
Every year, each game tries to take another step in making it look as realistic as possible. Developers use facial recognition technologies and a motion picture to generate movements and facial expressions that seem natural.
Today, we’re still able to distinguish the game from reality, but who knows if we can do it in, let’s say 2050. We wouldn’t be so sure.
Conclusion
If you told someone back in 2000 that the gaming industry will be as strong as it is now, they would probably call you a lunatic. Yet, here we are. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine how the world of entertainment would look like without video games.
What’s more, considering gaming technology development, the video games industry’s future has never been brighter. In fact, playing games with friends has become the best way to spend quality time together online during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gone are the days when gaming was associated with geeks and people who don’t leave their rooms. Thanks to the new technology solutions, playing games has become cool. And frankly, we can’t wait to see what the future holds.