Technology is rapidly changing many different industries. From the way we look at education to helping us speed up manufacturing processes, the world we live in is changing at break-neck speed. One industry that has often remained at the forefront when it comes to technology is the gaming industry, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s always going to be light years in front of everyone else.
Online gaming, whether that be desktop games, online poker, casinos, or apps you access through your mobile, is a fast-paced industry that is always finding ways to move with the times. Here are just some of the ways that the gaming industry is keeping up with the latest technological advancements.
Artificial Intelligence
Another example of technology that has now become mainstream is artificial intelligence (AI). It has become a crucial part of many different online gaming platforms but has seen particular popularity in online gambling.
In games like online poker which is very popular now, roulette, and betting platforms, AI can be used to optimize each player’s individual experience to suit their preferences and style of play. AI can adjust and modify each game depending on how the player is doing, creating a much more enjoyable experience for each gambler in real time.
Not only is AI improving the gaming experience, but it is also helping to make the online gambling industry safer, a technological trend that we expect to continue seeing throughout the rest of the year. AI technology can help online casinos introduce voice and facial recognition to add an extra layer of security for players, as well as help in fraud detection and prevention.
Virtual Reality
Gamers across the world had already started to explore the world of virtual reality (VR), long before the rest of us even knew it existed. Experiencing games through VR adds another level to playing your favourite games; allowing you to be fully immersed in the world you’re in.
In the past few years, VR has become an even more important part of online gaming. Popular games such as Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto have incorporated VR into their platforms, dropping players right into the middle of the world rather than just watching it through a screen.
In February 2023, Playstation launched the much-anticipated PSVR 2, a next-generation virtual gaming headset that will enhance the experience of gamers across the globe. In response to this, we expect to see plenty more brands following suit and taking VR further in online gaming. It could also be that in a few years, players turn to cloud VR as an alternative to traditional, bulky headsets, just another example of how the gaming industry is capitalizing on the latest technological trends.
Blockchain and NFTs
A decade ago, most of us had probably no idea what blockchain or NFTs were and could never have guessed the impact that they would now be having in the modern world, let alone the impact they would have on the online gaming industry.
It’s not uncommon to now see some of the biggest gaming manufacturers producing their NFTs for players to use within games. Examples include CryptoKitties, where players can buy, sell and breed NFT-based cats, or Walking Dead: Empires, an MMO powered by blockchain.
Other game creators are also voicing their intentions to incorporate NFTs into their games, so this seems to be a trend that will only grow in popularity. Even in other industries where blockchain and NFTs are more widely used, like finance, the uses of this technology are still being updated and changed every day. We expect online gaming companies to be keeping an eye on the latest advancements and seeing how they can be applied to the gaming industry.
The Metaverse
The Metaverse touted as the future of digital connection, may still be in its early stages but is expected to become a much larger part of our daily lives moving forward if people like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg have anything to do with it. This technology blends in well with other advancements like AI and VR, making it a natural option for many online gaming platforms to consider. With this immersive platform, millions of gamers across the world will be able to connect in one online platform where they can interact and, importantly, play games.
Metaverse itself is changing the way that companies are pushing out games, trying to turn them from traditional console-based games into fully-fledged platforms that encourage flexible and enveloping experiences for gamers.
Rather than just meeting up within a game to play, people can now be in their own virtual world where they can connect with the people they’re playing with and interact in much more complex ways than they could a decade ago.
