As we’re sure you know, gaming is a fickle industry. Genres rise and fall in popularity faster than many AAA companies can profit from them, and the history of gaming development is littered with failures to keep up with trends and greedy attempts to capitalise on what’s popular.
From the use of blockchain to the spectre of artificial intelligence that seems to hang over every industry, let’s explore the trending developments that are likely to change the way we play.
The emergence of blockchain in online gaming
It’s beyond the purview of this article to go into depth on the matter but blockchain has the potential to transform the way games are developed, distributed and played due to it’s decentralized and transparent nature. Blockchain is also famously able to shut down any attempts at foul play, which can only be a good thing that leads to fairness by preventing cheating and fraud.
The blockchain is already being used in one form of gaming, that of real money casinos that you can find online, you can learn about it in B2C if you want to look further into it, as they cover all different types of online casinos and the payment methods they accept. As this technology becomes more widespread amongst game developers it’s not unreasonable to expect that the games that are produced will be different in various ways as a result.
The influence of esports in the gaming industry
No longer a pipe dream, playing video games for a living is now a very real possibility. Pro gamers now compete in tournaments that can have millions of dollars in prize money up for grabs, and millions of fans tune in to watch their favorite teams and players in action. For example earlier this year Dota 2 had it’s highest-paying tournament of the year, the Riyadh Masters, with an overall prize pool of 15 million on the line. Esports is so successful that some games are made with the potential competition between pros in mind.
The growth of mobile gaming
Wyatt Cheng might be infamous for asking the crowd “Don’t you guys have phones?” during the announcement of Diablo Immortal in 2018 but tone-deaf as his remark was, he wasn’t wrong. Newer mobile devices like the Nintendo Switch or the Steam Deck which are designed for entirely mobile gaming experiences that still deliver high-quality graphics and gameplay are exceptionally popular. These mobile platforms have powerful hardware and intuitive touch controls and with an ever-broadening range of games designed for mobile platforms, they are beginning to have the library that will make them all that some people might need.
The impact of artificial intelligence on gaming
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way that so many professions work and video game development is no exception. AI-powered algorithms are said to be able to be used to enhance game graphics, physics and animations, with the intent of creating more realistic and immersive worlds. AI can also be used to develop intelligent seeming NPCs that can more readily adapt and respond to player actions, giving more licence to the feeling that the world that the player is interacting with is a real one, which will make the gaming experience more dynamic and engaging.
In summary, as technology advances and developers implement new features, player reactions to those features will help shape the level to which they will be implemented in future. From the emergence of blockchain to the impact of artificial intelligence, the hottest trends of 2023 can show us the way that things seem to be heading.
One thing is certain, developers will keep making games for us to enjoy and technology will only allow greater feats of game design to be possible. So, grab your controller or mobile device and get ready to embark on exciting virtual adventures!