Technological progress is rapid and unpredictable. There was a time when the concept of a pocket-sized touchscreen device was nearly incomprehensible, and now it’s hard to believe that anyone could live without one.
The advancement of time and technology has an important impact on the development of the game industry, and 2024 will be an active year in this regard. We don’t have a crystal ball, but here are some things players can expect to see in the near future.
Cloud gaming
Cloud gaming enables players to enjoy a smoother experience, essentially allowing individuals to stream games to devices that would otherwise not be able to run them.
By using remote servers to handle the actual processing, AAA games can now be played via the cloud on cheap laptops, tablets, and even phones.
The cloud also allows players to move smoothly and freely from one device to another without disruption to their gameplay, meaning they don’t need to pay for expensive hardware.
The only real downside to cloud gaming is that it relies heavily on a fast network connection, and anything less than that will result in a degraded experience.
Considering the many benefits of cloud gaming, coupled with the fact that companies like Xbox are already offering Netflix-style streaming game services, cloud gaming may surpass console and PC gaming in the near future.
Metaverse
A virtual world is an all-encompassing semi-virtual experience that combines the digital and physical worlds using a variety of cutting-edge software solutions and physical peripherals.
Metaverse can transform gaming platforms into immersive, connected worlds with strong social elements and provide many different ways for people to play, work and connect with friends.
Considered the next logical evolution of the Internet, although Metaverse is still in the conceptual stage, it is very likely that it will soon have a widespread impact on the gaming industry.
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)
One of the earliest applications of VR and AR technology was gaming, and the market for these products has snowballed into a multi-billion dollar market.
Pokémon GO’s incredible popularity can be considered a sign of things to come. It’s an augmented reality mobile game that enhances the player’s view of reality through the phone’s camera, and its success is sure to encourage further development in this area.
In the case of virtual reality, players can have an increasingly immersive gaming experience in a simulated environment. This improved user experience has a wide range of applications, such as improved graphics, interactions, and more effective storytelling.
One report found that the AR/VR segment of the gaming industry is expected to be worth over $52 billion by 2027.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence has thrust into the public spotlight in 2023, triggering union strikes, revolutionizing the internet, and sparking fierce debate over the effectiveness of AI-generated content.
When applied to the gaming industry, AI can provide players with personalized content, as well as rich, endless unique worlds for them to explore, autonomous non-player characters, and dynamically determined difficulty settings.
Using AI in game design isn’t a thing right now, but this branch of technology has grown so rapidly in recent years that it will become more and more common in games.
Nostalgic games
With the advancement of technology, some people’s yearning for a simple life is also increasing. This nostalgia manifests itself strongly in gaming, with “old school” games and more basic forms of gaming becoming more and more popular.
The game features some memorable classic characters, like Pac-Man and Mario, that players won’t be in a hurry to forget. Furthermore, many die-hard fans claim that the best slot machines to play are the classic ones.
These nostalgia trends are likely to increase as new technologies in their respective industries develop, and we’ll likely see a surge in the number of retro games and classic remakes released this year.
Esports
Gaming is more competitive than ever, and we can expect to see an increase in the popularity of esports, tournaments, and competitive-friendly games.
Competitive gaming has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few years, and it is now a recognized and respected spectator sport.
As esports gains more exposure and becomes more mainstream, we can become increasingly certain that this is a true sport of the future.
Blockchain and NFTs
Another important topic by 2023 is blockchain, which may be a common topic in 2024. The system that underpins cryptocurrencies also enables non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
NFTs are essentially unique digital assets, some of which have been sold for huge sums of money. By integrating blockchain and NFT technology, game providers can enable in-game transactions and own verified, unique digital assets.
One particularly controversial example of a unique asset is in-game loot boxes. There is still some healthy skepticism about whether NFT is a short-lived phase, as well as concerns about the protection and storage of digital assets, but discussions are ongoing and will certainly continue this year and beyond.
Tolerance
As with other entertainment industries, diversity and inclusion will continue to take center stage, and representation of individuals from diverse backgrounds will become increasingly common.
The game’s storytelling will be where we’re most likely to see changes, and they’ll likely include more representation from fewer backgrounds and people with disabilities.
It is also important that gaming providers work to combat bullying, anti-social behavior and discrimination, which is an issue within the gaming community.
As far as inclusivity in gaming goes, there’s no question that we’re taking steps and things are moving in the right direction, but there’s still a lot of work to be done and this will likely remain a hot topic in 2024 and beyond.