Gaming is one of the consistent growth industries of the modern age. At a time when many other fields of leisure and entertainment are struggling, the games industry just keeps expanding its base of customers.
That has caught the attention of other industries โ most notably the tech one. Some of the most impressive and exciting innovations in technology now are being built with gaming in mind.
What that means is everything from more powerful mobiles designed for games to truly out-of-this-world technology like virtual reality. There is insatiable consumer demand for better games technology and that is driving the tech sector on as it tries to meet it.
This current period is witnessing several exciting innovations starting to filter into the mainstream games industry.
How Tech Innovations are Making Gaming Better
The progression of new technologies is a constant process that is making gaming better. Take the example of poker for one. This is a game that has become easier for people to play because of technology and that has made it more popular.
People are now able to access top quality poker games and tournaments online rather than having to travel to them, thanks to online casino tech. The development of live video streaming capability means that they can play poker on the internet against real-life opponents now too. Mobile poker apps have further advanced the accessibility of the game, letting people play from anywhere.
What is true for poker is also true for other sorts of games; but what are the key tech innovations in the gaming world in 2024?
Virtual Reality
There are few gaming tech innovations that have the potential to be as revolutionary as virtual reality (VR). It is something that would have belonged in the realm of science fiction until very recently.
VR takes the idea of immersing yourself in a game to the next level. It provides the player with a digital world that is as all-enveloping and three-dimensional as the real world, via headsets like the Meta Quest 2.
Now that the tech is able to live up to the hype, virtual reality gaming is growing fast. It was worth $7.92 billion three years ago, but by 2028 it is forecast to be worth $53.44 billion. VR is clearly going to impact on almost every genre of game before long.
New PC Gaming Platforms
PC gaming remains a valuable part of the games market. It is expected to be valued at $31.52 billion by 2028 and the emergence of new platforms is helping to fuel that growth.
One of the most eye-catching is GOG. This is gaining ground fast because its available catalogue includes large numbers of both classic and cutting edge new titles.
Other PC games platforms that are nipping at the heels of Steam include Epic Games Store, UPlay and Origin. Competition will raise standards and that is great for people who like to play games on their computers.
E-sports
E-sports are competitive events in which individuals or teams of video game players take each other on. They are watched by massive numbers of spectators and are one of the hottest gaming tech trends.
E-sports events require special management software and we can expect a lot more money to be invested in developing that during the next few years. Some companies will focus solely on providing this management software. That is understandable when there are around 291.6 million e-sports fans around the world.
Active Video Games
Gaming has always been seen as a sedentary activity, but it is shedding that reputation. Active video games are ones that combine gaming with getting physically fit.
They are not exactly a new invention, but it is now that they are gaining in popularity. Many of them are augmented reality (AR) games that add digital features to the real world.
One example of a very successful AR active video game is Zombies Run! This combines a running app with a storyline where the user must escape from AR zombies that are chasing them.
The Metaverse
The Metaverse is a digital universe of interconnected networks. It is not technology created for gaming, as it is also a social network, but gaming is set to play a big part in its future.
A lot of Metaverse users already visit it mainly for playing games and that number will almost certainly rise in the future. Indeed, some kind of link-up between VR gaming and the Metaverse seems the likeliest way in which it will develop as a platform for playing games.
We will have to wait and see though.
These are just some of the innovations in online gaming right now. Others involve artificial intelligence, as well as mobile, so there is much to be excited about.
