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New technologies are shaping what next-generation gaming will be. Are you ready to join?
With the advent of new technologies, we are starting to see a shift in the way games are made, played and experienced – defining the future of gaming. But what exactly is driving these changes, and how can game developers and gamers help build them? Let’s take a deeper look at the changes this multi-billion dollar industry is likely to bring in the coming years, and how you can get involved.
What does the future of gaming look like?
The next generation of gaming is being shaped by several major forces. First, there is the rise of new platforms and technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and cloud gaming.
Then there is the increasingly important metaspace. This will become a shared online space where players can interact in a variety of ways while trading information and value.
And we can’t talk about disruptive innovation in the gaming industry without considering the growing importance of gaming communities, their contributions, and all the issues that come with them.
All of these areas allow any gamer to dream of a world of possibilities, and these novelties are getting closer every day. In fact, we can already taste something of every gaming experience.
So, how can we dip our toes into the future of gaming?
Virtual and augmented reality
Games are becoming more powerful at an accelerating rate. And creating that power are the boundaries that separate the real from the virtual world – boundaries that any player can cross.
With the help of technologies like virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), you can immerse yourself in a digital environment or take elements of the game and interact with the real-world environment.
It’s still too early to point out the huge success of VR games, but both enthusiasts and companies like Facebook are still investing in building the technology. The Sony PlayStation, HTC Vive and Oculus are just some examples of VR headsets.
And while Pokemon Go, the mobile hit launched in 2016, remains the most popular use case for AR, other games are following its lead. Facebook, which also has Oculus products, recently released the Meta Quest 2. This device combines VR and AR into one.
Artificial intelligence
Another area where giant companies need to invest in gaming is artificial intelligence (AI). We’ve seen AI in a variety of areas over the years, from controlling non-player characters (NPCs) to improving the gaming experience with the help of analytics.
But its potential goes even further. With the right tools and knowledge, AI can help create and design new game lore stories, generate art and characters. This alone could dramatically speed up game development if only the industry knew how to use it – making it not only a player-oriented technology, but also developer-friendly.
Cloud gaming
The cloud is changing the way we live and work. The future of gaming will not only be more immersive and exciting, but will require less hardware to run.
With the power of the cloud, games can be streamed to any device with internet access, making it possible to play the latest and most demanding games on a budget.
However, cloud technology requires a fast, reliable and affordable Internet connection. Therefore cloud technology is not well suited for gaming. It’s not for nothing that Google recently killed the “Netflix of gaming” – Google Playgrounds. Nonetheless, investment in cloud gaming continues, with companies like Asus, Intel, Amazon, Nintendo and Apple all having a stake in it.
And it’s not just big companies that are taking advantage of the technology – there are already a number of startups working to make cloud gaming more accessible to the masses.
This participation from a variety of developers is not only good for the industry, but necessary for it to grow and become more diverse. That is, less concentrated in the hands of the large game studio monopolies.
Ownership and the rise of game communities
When we talk about the future of gaming, we need to take into account that gaming communities play an important role in reputation and branding. In these communities, players support the game and then create content and social engagement on other platforms.
In addition, user-generated content requires a dedicated community. The rise of gaming communities has increased with the adoption of the Internet, allowing them to connect, exchange information, and create together. This is something that has never been seen before.
Esports, the competitive scene of video games generated by the players themselves, is a great example of the importance of community. It’s not just the platform or the game that matters, but the players themselves.
Through esports, there are now teams, fans, supporters, builders, organizers, and more. The industry alone is worth over $2 billion and has completely changed the way gaming reaches the masses independently of businesses – sometimes even attracting giant brands into their world.
We’re excited to announce the expansion of our global partnership with @Lolesports 🙌.
Together with @Riotgames, we look forward to continuing to elevate the esports experience and bring fans closer to the gaming they love ❤️.
Together, the possibilities are #Priceless pic.twitter.com/R5EdfEkM9a
– MastercardNexus (@MastercardNexus) October 12, 2022
A game’s community can make or break a game. Communities, esports teams and guilds are becoming more and more involved.
In this direction, the future of the industry also revolves around giving gaming communities the recognition they deserve. Further down the line, the power of each individual player will also be recognized.
As a way to control their personal, time and financial investment in the game, players will own game assets that have real-world value. This is a turning point not only for the way games are built, but also for the way business is conducted in the gaming industry. Suddenly, the player is no longer an idle consumer, but an active participant.
The metaverse
Combining all these elements of the future, the metaverse is the next step in gaming. The metaverse can be seen as the next evolution of the Internet, where people will be able to interact and trade through various virtual worlds, game spaces and social hubs.
Metaverse virtual worlds have already been developed and new virtual worlds are emerging. In addition to implementing game elements, these are also environments that allow social interaction and business accessibility to develop.
This means that any real-world communication, playing games, creating content, or even making money can be done in the metaverse.
Next-generation games of today: success and challenges
While all talk of the future seems distant and idealistic, some studios and developers are already working on innovative gaming experiences.
Here are some interesting games that take you through time and space to see what the future of gaming might be.
- Sandbox: A virtual world where landowners can make their own games, comparable to Minecraft and Roblox.
- Guild of Guardians: A mobile action RPG where players fight in dungeons using the game’s characters. Team play is encouraged through social guilds.
- Gods Unchained: A trading card game with a strong competitive element where players can earn card packs and tokens, upgrade cards and participate in tournaments.
Blockchain technology helps gamers gain ownership of digital assets. This can be in-game currency, virtual land, game items, or rewards. Some of these games can already be found through UNITBOX, for example, through game leaderboards.
The games of tomorrow: A summary
The future of the gaming industry is bright. With the rise of new technologies, the democratization of the industry, and the empowerment of the gaming community, the possibilities for the next generation of games are endless.
So if you want to join the gaming industry, now is the time to start.
At UNITBOX, we keep an eye on the latest gaming trends and make sure everyone has access to informative and useful information.
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We hope you enjoy learning more about what the future of gaming looks like. Be sure to join our community by following UNITBOXon Twitter.
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