The video game industry has been one of the fastest growing over the past decade, with its valuation now at roughly $90 billion. Gaming is becoming such a passion and mainstream hobby, it stands to reason that companies creating experiences and devices for gamers are going to continue making a lot of money.
One of the beauties of such an industry is that change is always in the air. Even if there are wonderful gaming experiences that people can enjoy today, companies are always looking for new technologies that influence change and bring about even better products.
Below is a rundown of the five most interesting and relevant technology-driven innovations in gaming in the past few years.
1. Cloud Gaming
Gamers have long feared that moving away from physical copies of games would be a problem. While the convenience of online play is positive for everyone, some feared that not being able to physically own titles would mean they would lose ownership somewhere down the road.
While those fears do still exist, cloud gaming has shown that there is so much potential out there for more people to experience the wonders of elite games. Rather than needing to have a top-tier system, a person can stream a video game from a server onto their old computer, console, or even smartphone.
There are countless cloud gaming services available these days, such as Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now. Some services are free but require you to buy each game, while others ask for a monthly fee that includes the ability to play various games within its service.
2. Virtual Reality
No bigger change has arrived in the world of gaming over the past decade than the advent of virtual reality. Strapping on a VR headset, such as the Meta Quest 2, is an experience that would change the lives of most people.
Whether you enjoy playing regular games or not, VR gaming is an entirely new experience. These devices do come with controllers, which lead people to believe the games they will play are in some way similar to console or computer titles.
The reality is that VR gaming is entirely different, as you are playing an immersive title where your movements and actions are the ones that are driving outcomes. Sports, shooting, role-playing, and puzzle games are entirely unique on virtual reality consoles.
3. The Metaverse
While VR gaming is transforming the way that gamers think about their hobby, the Metaverse concept is taking the industry into another space. Having a Metaverse is linked to virtual reality, but it is slightly different.
The idea is the brainchild of Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg, who wants to create virtual spaces where people can use their VR headsets to interact with other users. These could be communities where people watch sports games or concerts together or in-game worlds where people exchange virtual tokens and other items.
Many experts believe the Metaverse could be a huge attraction in the coming years, but it is not ready at present. Gamers may have to wait a few years for a true Metaverse experience, but it is likely to be a game changer when it arrives.
4. Esports
When people think about sports, their mind rarely turns to online gaming. They envision games such as soccer, basketball, or tennis. Esports, however, are becoming increasingly popular around the world in the past five to ten years.
Games such as League of Legends and World of Warcraft have countless players and tournaments that are worth a lot of money. First-person shooter games such as Counter-Strike are even more popular than they were in the past.
People who play games online for a living can make great money, provided they are very good at their chosen game. They can compete in leagues virtually, and they can also travel to events around the world to win grand prizes.
5. Watching Video Gamers
The idea of watching a person play a video game, whether they are a professional esports player or a content creator, has somewhat transformed the industry.
There is a whole group of people that not only enjoys playing games or watching esports tournaments but will spend hours engaging with other people who are playing a video game.
Streamers can go live on platforms such as Twitch, which allows them to stream themselves going through various levels within a game or taking on opponents online in competitive games.
