Few modern industries have developed as quickly and as successfully as the games sector, which has expanded dramatically from its early days in the late 1970s.
Gaming has come a long way since the era of Space Invaders and Asteroids, and in 2023, the sheer variety of gaming genres, titles and platforms is remarkable.
Most of those developments have occurred thanks to technological changes and the ingenuity of gaming developers who have continually been able to push back the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming.
In fact, it has become difficult for gamers to keep up with the rate of change, whether it’s casino gamers reading about the latest in online casino gaming trends or those trying to choose a new games console. To help you get a handle on all these changes, here are some of the key gaming trends that we expect will be dominant in 2024.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is arguably one of the most significant gaming advancements of the last few years, offering gamers the chance to immerse themselves in an ultra-realistic gaming environment.
The main barrier to the widespread adoption of VR in gaming has been the size and cost of the equipment necessary to this technology, but that has been changing for a while now, and as VR becomes ever more accessible, the VR market is likely to grow beyond $70 billion in 2024.
Cross-Platform Gaming
Gaming across platforms is a revolutionary concept that has the potential to completely change the face of the gaming industry. The technology has been gaining ground in recent months and is likely to have a big year in 2024. It allows gamers to play games with others, whether or not they’re on the same platform, and the release of the PS5 and Xbox Series X marked an important milestone on the road to widespread adoption of cross-gaming technology.
Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming technology is already here, but 2024 could be the year when it really takes over. Cloud gaming makes it possible for gamers to play games on any device without the need to upgrade their hardware or to buy new consoles or PC components. With cloud gaming, the games are housed on gaming company servers, and the gameplay is streamed to a suitable device. Cloud gaming also removes the need for downloads of games.
Blockchain Technology
You may not know exactly how blockchain technology works, but one thing it is known for is its ability to underpin secure transactions, and this can have a significant impact on the gaming sector. It has the potential to allow gamers to own in-game items and to sell them to others through in-game marketplaces based on blockchain technology. Expect to see this feature appearing in a few games during 2024.
5G and Mobile Technology
The rolling out of 5G technology is going to affect every sector of the global economy, as it offers much faster upload and download speeds, better connections and reduced latency, and that is likely to provide a major boost to mobile gaming, which is already a fast-growing sector. 5G will enable more immersive gaming on mobile devices and will herald a new era of mobile gaming.
Streaming
Platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming have become incredibly popular over the last few years, and that popularity continues to grow. Some of the technology discussed here will make it even easier for gamers and content producers to provide streaming services and will also help esports broadcasters to provide ever more intensive and user-friendly esports coverage.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) already has a foothold in the gaming sector, with virtual assistants and AI-bots helping to enhance the experience of gaming and to make games more challenging. Developers are increasingly likely to use AI as an aid not just in creating more immersive games but also to enable a more tailored and engaging player experience.
Gamification
Not strictly a trend within gaming, the growth in gamification across other sectors of society is a reflection of the strength and cultural impact of gaming in the 2020s.
Gamification refers to the use of game-style elements and mechanics in contexts that are unrelated to gaming, such as marketing or education. Gamification is one way for companies to engage customers and potential customers, particularly those who have grown up playing games.
It can deliver a more engaging and enjoyable learning or customer experience, and we are likely to see game-style mechanics popping up in all sorts of places during 2024.
