Gaming has considerably evolved from the simple game simulations of the 50s and 60s. Today’s immersive gaming experiences are a far cry from the original Spacewar designed by MIT hobbyists back in 1962.
As technology evolves rapidly, just a decade has taken humankind from smartphone games like Candy Crush and Angry Birds to richer, more interactive experiences of No Man’s Sky that blur the lines between the real and the virtual. So, what are the top gaming trends dominating the world today? Read on to find out.
1. Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR and AR)
Virtual reality and Augmented Reality have been promising a richer immersive gameplay experience for decades now. However, the set-up was quite bulky, with a headset that resembled science fiction. Then there was the rise and fall of Pokemon Go for AR.
However, these gaming technologies are reaching their tipping point, especially with Facebook purchasing the Oculus Rift. Gaming headsets are about to become less clunky. Besides that, Google’s Cardboard offers the same interactive experience on a smaller scale.
All that is needed is a smartphone, and even parents and occasional gamers can jump onto this bandwagon.
2. Procedural Narratives and Backdrops
The term may seem off-putting, but it conceals a gaming concept that is as exciting as any. The current video games feature plots that are more or less rigid. The scenes are set within specific parameters, which means you’re likely to find the same plot every time you play. But that is gradually changing; from plots to characters, backgrounds and even locations will cease to be pre-programmed. They will be generated new (based on preset boundaries) each time the player makes a new choice.
Games such as No Man’s Sky already feature procedural narratives, but the future of gaming will be less predictable still.
3. Accessible Modding
If there is one thing that gaming enthusiasts with programming skills have always strived for, it’s accessible modding or modifying the game to include additional features. Games such as Skyrim allow that wherein minor changes can be made – light coming from irrational sources, adding entirely new locations and quests, etc.
However, considerable changes require solid programming skills. While today only professionals are able to do so, the future of gaming will see gamers supplying the ideas while their system does the programming.
Some changes that can be made could include sophisticated character swaps, re-scripting gaming dialogues, and creating a character’s face simply by uploading a picture, among others.
4. Continuity of Microtransactions
The microtransactions market in gaming is expected to generate a whopping $67.60 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 13.6%. While some players believe that microtransactions make the gaming experience less enjoyable, others take a sense of pride.
This is because this feature offers the same level of ownership as that of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). A simple switch, such as a new weapon or armor, is sufficient to make the gamer feel invincible. Hence, microtransactions are undoubtedly present in gaming’s future.
Today’s Gaming is a Whole New Ball Game!
The aforementioned trends will work in tandem to make the future of gaming as interactive and ‘real’ for the gamer as possible. Meanwhile, as a young child, everybody has imagined at least once a make-believe world that runs entirely on their whims and will. Well, immersive gaming of the future promises precisely that! The tantalizing aspects of gaming are becoming increasingly real, especially with the rapid growth of eSports and technological advancements.
