The gaming industry is one that thrives on technological development, with consumers eager for the latest ways to improve their gaming experience. While some trends come and go quickly, others last longer and benefit from improvements.
One of the most significant developments in the gaming industry has been the popularity of online gaming services, and hardware, software, and connectivity improvements have provided the base from which developers can push the boundaries.
Some gaming trends suit specific genres more than others, but there will always be some level of crossover as developers and operators explore ways to improve the gaming experience for their customers.
iGaming – Crypto Payments
The iGaming industry is massively popular all around the world, and operators are constantly looking for ways to stand out in a competitive market. This has seen the development of a number of exciting games to complement existing casino games that are already popular.
Another way that iGaming operators are providing a better service to their customers is by exploring a variety of payment methods, including crypto payments. The cryptocurrency industry has enjoyed a boost in popularity in recent months, and political backing should help to cement its place as an alternative to traditional payment methods.
Online gambling expert Charlie Pearson provides a curated list of real money casinos with options for people who want to use credit and debit cards, eWallets, and cryptocurrencies to deposit to their accounts. Cryptocurrencies offer a variety of benefits for bettors, including improved access.
The online casino industry in the US is still hampered by regulatory restrictions, with only seven states currently offering licensed operations. Offshore alternatives provide consumers with a way to bet, and cryptocurrencies make it easier to do this. Bettors can enjoy faster transactions using crypto, and cheaper fees are also a big plus.
Crypto use in international transfers is particularly popular because consumers and operators don’t have the hassle or expense of dealing with currency exchange rates. This can help both save money on every transaction and make it easier for players to understand exactly how much they are staking.
Action and Shooter – Battle Royale
The subgenre of battle royale games in the action and shooter sphere looks likely to continue its reign of popularity, with players enjoying the excitement of these last-man-standing events. Named after the cult movie that saw a class of Japanese children taken to a remote island where they had to fight for survival, these games employ similar elements.
Players must scavenge for weapons and resources while surviving potential attacks from other players. The game zone will typically shrink as the game continues, forcing players into contact with one another. Games like Fortnite Battle Royale, Apex Legends, and PUBG have all enjoyed large customer bases, and players can compete against people from all around the world.
First-Person Shooters/Horror – VR
Virtual reality has developed from being a novelty that was crowbarred into games, purely so developers could use the tech, to something that has elevated the gaming experience to new levels.
The rush to be first to market with new technologies can often be harmful, especially if the new tech hinders the gameplay. Thankfully, we are in a position now where the VR hardware has reached a level where it can genuinely improve the gaming experience for players.
First-person shooters and horror genres are not the only ones that offer great VR gaming experiences, but they lead the way in terms of immersion and gameplay. FPS games require concentration and provide players with real perspectives and a sense of danger. Similarly, horror games can create truly terrifying experiences for players who zone into games.
Mobile Gaming – AR
The vast majority of US consumers have access to a mobile device, and the gaming industry has capitalized on this by tailoring existing titles and creating others for the mobile gaming market.
Modern smartphones have fully integrated cameras that provide an avenue for augmented reality technology to be implemented into a variety of games. This tech is nothing new to the mobile gaming industry, having enjoyed massive success in 2016 with the release of Pokémon Go.
Pokémon Go allowed players to capture creatures by travelling around real-world settings. Players could then choose to use their camera to catch them with real backgrounds or use computer generated backgrounds instead.
Pokémon Go is still popular today, and other games have emerged to make the most of AR technology.
Strategy – AI
The use of artificial intelligence in modern gaming has helped to create unique experiences for players compared with linear story lines that were found in older games. It used to be that players could practice the same rounds over and over until they completed a game. Now, players can enjoy different outcomes every time they play, without repeating the same steps.
AI is best suited to strategy games where players must make decisions as the game progresses. AI technology can then adapt the game based on these choices, and can even be used to improve the quality and interactions from NPRs.
As well as improving game development, AI can also be used to adjust game settings as players proceed. Rather than having set difficulty settings for a game, AI can be used to adjust the difficulty during gameplay based on the player’s ability. This helps to keep the game competitive enough to be interesting, but not so difficult that it puts players off.
Final Thoughts
The developmental nature of the gaming industry means that more trends will come and go based on player preferences and emerging technologies. The ability to improve existing technologies will help to improve the overall standard of gameplay, while emerging trends will work on a trial-and-error basis to determine the next key improvements to gaming.
Many trends will stand out for a particular genre or two, but game developers will be able to cherry-pick elements that can be implemented in future titles across the board. The idea of gaming trends might be seen as something that is popular now but will fade away, but the truth is that many of these trends will shape the future of the industry.
