Gaming has come a long way from bulky consoles that take up an entire cupboard. In fact, Savanta’s survey claims that 9 out of 10 Brits have played games at some point in the past year, while 54% of them do it every day. As the gaming landscape becomes more inclusive and diverse, the number of players grows. The growth is followed by technological advances and innovative inputs that make the popular pastime more immersive.
In this article, we tackle some of the hottest gaming trends to harness the ongoing entertainment opportunities.
Mobile Gaming Remains on Top
With all due respect to traditional consoles, it is still smartphones that remain the most beloved playing tool of them all. Today’s technology supports instant access to millions of gaming apps with brilliant visuals, such as those presented by online slot titles. The cherry on top is convenience: anyone who can use a phone can play the game they want, whenever they feel like it.
The previously mentioned report also notices some interesting trends in mobile gaming:
- Women are more keen on mobile play than men;
- Two-thirds of mobile gamers in the UK are married or in civil partnership;
- 46% of people who play mobile games daily are over 40 years old.
Cloud Gaming (R)evolution
Fifteen years ago, everyone was raving about cloud technologies. Now, we use it without thinking twice. It has also entered the world of gaming, albeit a lot slower than anticipated. Still, the potential of cloud technology is massive and shouldn’t be disregarded easily. Although some companies struggle to implement it, Nintendo takes the lead with a curated selection of titles that rely on the Ubitus cloud.
Generative AI Gaming for Naturalistic Experience
AI is probably the buzzword of the decade, so no wonder its influence is also present in video gaming. It is believed generative AI gaming will enhance the playing experience by making characters look more real and conversations more fluent and less automated. The gaming landscape players will enter will feel more real and believable, whether it is a bakery, a football stadium or a zombie-infested town.
The first in line to get a generative AI treatment are non-playable characters, but soon enough, AI will also improve the way players interact with their own characters.
Augmented Reality vs Virtual Reality vs Extended Reality
Many players in the UK are wondering what’s up with these three. The confusion gets bigger if we know the media often uses all three terms interchangeably, despite the fact each of them is completely different.
Augmented reality adds new elements to the player’s surroundings that physically exist. So, for example, if you are playing a zombie game, your AR glasses may add monsters around the corner.
Virtual reality is completely imaginary. There are no real elements in it, even though the graphics can be as believable as it gets. For instance, VR glasses can visualize an entire zombie-infested village. Of course, you’ll still be safe in your living room.
Extended reality (XR) is an umbrella term for all technologies that help create different realities in one way or another. As a term, XR includes both existing tech and algorithms that still have to hit the market. It is likely that all gaming consoles, and even smartphones, will implement these technologies in the upcoming decade.
Considering the burgeoning gaming sector of 2024, it’s safe to say that embracing new technologies will transform the playing experience for good and make every video game a thrilling yet easily accessible blockbuster.
Matthew is a seasoned researcher and writer with over five years of experience creating engaging SEO content. He is passionate about exploring new ideas and sharing his knowledge through writing. Matthew has a keen eye for detail and takes pride in producing content that is not only informative but also visually appealing. He constantly expands his skill set and stays up-to-date with the latest SEO trends to ensure that his content always performs well in search rankings. Matthew can be found reading, surfing, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen when he’s not writing.