The world of gaming has always been fast-evolving because the industry has to be up to date with the latest technological trends. From simple local games to online multiplayer games and massively multiplayer online role-playing games, the gaming industry is always upgrading itself.
It’s 2024 and we are witnessing new upgrades that will revolutionize gaming for the next couple of years. These are the exciting new trends we’ve observed in the online gaming scene in 2024.
AR and VR Gaming
AR and VR technology has been around for a while, but it keeps getting better and in 2024 we expect to see it integrated into more games. With Apple’s Vision Pro and other big corporations getting involved in the AR/VR space, producers are on crunch time to integrate the feature into their games.
With the full introduction of these features into popular titles, gameplay will get a lot more interactive, realistic, and immersive. In the few instances we have seen it being applied presently, players get to dive into the digital world as a virtual reality(VR) or interact with in-game objects in the real world with augmented reality(AR).
Play and Earn
Games are played for entertainment, but there has been a shift to emphasize making a profit from playing. One glaring instance of this is in the Web3 world, where play-to-earn games are gaining more traction by the day. These games use valuable tokens that players win while playing.
However, this trend is not limited to the web3 universe alone. Esports is a competitive version of regular digital games where winners get large rewards for winning competitions. In 2024, we expect to see more online eSports competitions that skilled players can take advantage of.
In addition to these, more states are legalizing online casino gambling and attracting punters in large numbers. Regulated real money casinos are already in the US and available in states that have opened their laws to accept online casinos. For instance, BetMGM’s online casino is presently available in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Metaverse Gaming
Tech companies have been investing resources in developing the digital metaverse, and the gaming industry has followed. Research projections suggest that the gaming market on the Metaverse will reach a valuation of $20.9 billion this year.
Playing in the Metaverse offers more realistic gameplay and an exciting digital experience. The immersive environment allows players to enjoy community and social interactions while in the game.
Generative AI
Between 2023 and 2024, AI made some of the most shocking leaps the public has ever witnessed, and there is still a lot more to come. For instance, Open AI’s GPT-4o release has revealed advancements in AI’s ability to simulate human interactions.
This technology will be introduced into more games in 2024. Players will be able to interact with intelligent NPCs(non-player characters). Many of the interactions in the games can now be generated on the go in response to players’ live actions, and they will still be intelligent, human-styled reactions.
Cloud Gaming
Cloud Gaming is the feature that we expect to change people’s perspective on gaming, and we might see the big shift we’ve been waiting for in 2024. For a very long time, the best games have required the most expensive computer setups because games require a lot of expensive hardware to run optimally.
However, with cloud gaming, there will be no need for expensive tools because the games will be run on an external server. On the player’s end, it will just be an interactive streaming interface because the cloud server will be doing all the heavy lifting. With advancements in wireless communications, the latency of communications between the client and the server will be incredibly low.
Conclusion
Technology always informs change, and online games, which were themselves a creation of technological advancement, are always evolving to match new technological innovations. A lot of new tech has been developed in 2024, and we expect to see them on our gaming screens this year, or at least in game previews.