Video games have steadily risen in popularity for years. And with people looking for new ways to socialize and stay entertained during the pandemic, the trend has only accelerated. Gaming is now a bigger industry than movies and sports combined.
Revenue for gaming grew 12 percent in 2020, up to $139.9 billion from $120.1 billion in 2019, according to a report by market research firm Super Data. And at one point last year, four out of every five people in the United States had played a video game within the previous six months.
It used to be ‘what to watch’ and now it’s whether to watch, venture capitalist Matthew Ball wrote. And the answer is increasingly no, I’m going to play a game.
Mobile Gaming on the Rise
We have acknowledged it before several times and still recognize the fact that mobile phones are more than just gadgets used to connect and stay connected with people. The mobile phone industry has seen a sudden shift in companies and manufacturers dedicating their technology and innovation towards gaming. Not everyone is capable or willing to invest thousands of dollars in building a gaming PC or purchasing a console and a gaming smartphone can efficiently perform all the functions that can be expected from a phone, plus it has an added edge of gaming capabilities.
Cloud Gaming to Dominate the Future of Gaming
Gone are the days when cloud services only solved the problem of delivering extra storage for your data. Services like GeForce Now by Nvidia and Stadia by Google allow users to indulge in high-quality gaming without having to invest in heavy-duty hardware. The work of the cloud gaming infrastructure is very similar to the working of remote desktops.
Cross-Platform Accessibility
Mobiles, PCs, and Consoles have different user bases and the debate to determine the best platform for gaming is ongoing. However, with the gaming community expanding at a fast pace, cross-platform accessibility could be the new normal. Gamers will be able to play alongside fellow gamers irrespective of the platform they are on. This means that whether you are playing on mobile, PC, or a console, as long as you are playing the same game, you can be on the same team or playing against each other despite the platform you are playing on.
Impact of 5G on the Video Gaming Industry
5G is the next big thing in technology and will have numerous impacts on the gaming industry. Latency, network capacity, bandwidth coverage and stutters are the major roadblocks that gamers across platforms face daily. 5G will remove these issues, making connectivity better, along with clarity during in-game communication. This will benefit the eSports industry, mobile gamers would no longer have to rely on 4G connectivity and could take advantage of the seamless gaming experience.
In the last few decades, the gaming industry has advanced at breakneck speed. Video games themselves continue to evolve thanks to technological breakthroughs like 3D graphics, Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence, as does the hardware to play them. As we continue to develop, players will be able to enjoy more realistic, more immersive and more engaging experiences. Given the current pace of technological advancements, and expected developments of the future, games experiences are expected to continue to improve and, with time, help the games', industry reach unprecedented heights.
You must be logged in to post a comment.