Technology trends in the gaming industry are growing rapidly due to robust digital transformations. According to Grand View Research, the video game market is expected to reach USD 583.69 billion by 2030. It’s all thanks to the newest gaming technologies shaping the future of gaming. Today, gaming has gone beyond consoles and PCs to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mobile devices. Conversely, streaming video games have fueled a dramatic boom in 3D game development.
Keeping up with the latest mobile gaming trends gives players, developers, and industry professionals an edge over their competitors. These trends can help you find profitable business opportunities also. Over time, some of these trends failed to sustain and were replaced by more sophisticated but approachable gaming technologies, yet many of them revolutionized the entire industry. Since the internet has been filled with modern technologies that have contributed to creating incredible games, we are more interested in what’s next. So, let’s find out what are the current trends in the gaming industry.
Top gaming trends and technologies
In the near future, we may expect something truly extraordinary from both big and small gaming studios using such technologies as AI, VR, Blockchain, and others. Here are some of the latest gaming trends that are expected to gain traction in the coming years.
- Crypto-based gaming
The gaming industry in 2024 will increasingly focus on cryptocurrency-based games due to the use of real money as rewards. Different from blockchain-based games, crypto-based games offer players the chance to win cryptocurrency. A gaming experience like this can be highly lucrative for players and can even attract more people to the industry. Additionally, crypto-based gaming offers enhanced security and transparency.
The demand for crypto-based gaming experiences in 2024 will lead developers to create more rewarding and secure games. To develop successful crypto-based games, developers must strike the right balance between security and rewards.
Among cryptocurrency-based games are Ethereum-based ‘ Etherbots,’ decentralized exchanges, and collectible card games. Another example is Twelfth Man. Twelfth Man is a gaming platform that integrates cryptocurrencies into its immersive experience. Players can play fantasy games and receive winnings directly into their crypto wallets.
- Blockchain gaming
Blockchain-based gaming is another trend in gaming technologies. According to estimates, the blockchain gaming market will grow to $65.7 billion by 2027 due to increased investment in games built on blockchain technology. In contrast to crypto-based gaming, blockchain gaming is a different kind of experience. This is a new gaming technology that provides a secure and transparent gaming experience. Blockchain games track game data utilizing a distributed ledger system to ensure secure transactions between gamers and developers.
Using this technology, one can also tokenize virtual assets, decentralize gaming asset markets, create verifiable ledgers, and protect the gaming economy from phishing scams. Gamers can sell their in-game assets on blockchain marketplaces once they own the assets. Blockchain can also be used to secure a user’s account within a game. Thus, 2024 is the year when blockchain will transform the gaming industry.
- Gaming as a service (Cloud-based gaming)
Developing cloud-based games is one of the hottest gaming trends today. Streaming and playing games on the cloud means you don’t have to worry about computing power and storage. Gaming can be streamed efficiently on the cloud server without the need for powerful hardware. As cloud gaming eliminates the need for high-end hardware, it enables remote access to games.
Developers will also benefit from cloud-based gaming as they will not have to spend as much on maintenance and hardware upgrades. This technology enables developers to make games faster and more efficiently, regardless of hardware limitations. Moreover, with cloud-based gaming, developers can create more immersive games with higher graphics, sounds, and overall quality. Additionally, cloud computing will make it easier to release new games and keep up with demand.
In the coming years, gaming as a service (GaaS) or cloud gaming will revolutionize the gaming industry.
- Metaverse
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Metaverse is considered the next big digital revolution in many industries today, and gaming is no exception. Metaverse is a universal virtual world in 3D. Its decentralized environment makes it very appealing to developers and gamers, as it creates a win-win situation for both. According to Global Market Estimates, the global Metaverse market in gaming is expected to reach $710.21 billion by 2027. There is no doubt that metaverse will remain one of the top gaming technologies in the coming years.
Metaverse’s goal is to captivate players and offer them an exceptional experience. It contributes to the development of a higher-level, three-dimensional environment in which user interaction and in-built gaming elements are more personalized than in a two-dimensional experience. Metaverse is unquestionably an excellent method for creating augmented reality, including a substantial connection to the world as a whole.
As an example, Disney has opted to use Metaverse in its theme parks to minimize the distinction between the virtual and physical worlds. In the same way, games like Decentraland, Sandbox, Fortnite, Minecraft, etc., are also integrating the immersive world of the metaverse into their games. A game development company can help you integrate this universal 3D platform into your game.
- Esports
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As you can see above, 318 million people will be fans of esports by 2025, with a CAGR of +8.1% (2020-2025). The total audience will exceed 640 million by 2025.
Esports competitions started during COVID-19 and have stayed popular ever since. Esports gaming trends have exploded in popularity as more and more streamers like FaZe Clan, Ninja, and Summit1G start streaming their matches.
Esports are competitive video games played by skilled video gamers around the world. Esports encompasses competitions across a variety of video games, just as traditional sports include baseball, basketball, and football. Contrary to popular belief, esports aren’t just a thing happening in unemployed twentysomethings’ basements; they’re a real industry that’s growing globally and is investable.
Esports are watched both online and in person by over 380 million people worldwide. The League of Legends 2016 World Finals had more viewers (43 million) than NBA Finals Game 7 that year (31 million viewers). The esports sector offers a wide variety of monetization opportunities due to its fragmented landscape and digital platform. They offer an exciting way to interact with their favorite games, which has attracted many esports fans. As a result of this trend, professional tournaments and leagues have bigger prize pools.
- AR and VR-based gaming (Extended reality)
By 2026, the AR and VR video game market will reach $11.0 billion. A CAGR of 18.5% is expected between 2021 and 2026. (Industry ARC)
VR gaming devices, such as VR headsets, hand controllers, etc., enable gamers to interact with the game. While VR games immerse the player completely, AR overlays digital objects and sounds over the real world. As a result, the format is even more engaging and accessible. With the rise of smartphones, game developers have been able to use AR as a storytelling medium. There are barely any alternatives to Augmented and Virtual Reality gaming in terms of offering an immersive first-person video game-playing experience. As a result of Pokemon Go, AR gaming gained popularity overnight.
These gaming technologies will enable game developers to integrate 3D imaging and effects as well as provide gamers with captive experiences in real and virtual environments. The real-time interaction will also help gamers engage better because they will be able to interact in real time.
AR and VR solutions are being integrated into mobile and wearable devices, creating immersive gaming experiences, which is why AR and VR will be one of the hot gaming technologies in 2024. Popular AR/VR games include Beat Saber, Superhot VR, and Half-Life: Alyx. You can integrate AR/VR into your gaming experience with mobile app development services.
- Gaming with Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is already being used everywhere, and the gaming industry is no different. It plays a critical role in the design and development of games. AI is used in video games to make them more realistic and challenging. It can include non-player characters (NPCs) that react to a player’s actions, enemy units that make strategic decisions, and even the environment itself. As well as generating dynamic in-game events and levels, AI is also being used to generate opponents who adapt to the player’s skill level.
Many games now incorporate AI to enhance gameplay and make it more immersive for players. Games with AI track the player’s actions and interactions with characters and make intelligent decisions, making the game more engaging and interesting. As a result, players feel like they are interacting with real characters rather than just programmed entities during the game.
An early instance of successful AI in gaming is IBM’s Deep Blue, which defeated Garry Kasparov, the world champion in 1997. Since then, a wide range of games have incorporated AI, including two-player games, multiplayer games, and video games.
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The future of gaming industry
In terms of gaming, 2024 will be one of the most prosperous years for the gaming industry since 2017. The video game market is always changing, parallel to technological advancements and people’s evolving tastes in games. The increasing competition among developers will also contribute to a better gaming experience.
Some of what we have discussed above are not entirely new gaming technologies. Several tech trends you may already be familiar with, are simply taking on new forms and guises. The Metaverse, for instance, is still at the beginning of its development in the gaming industry, so it is hard to predict exactly how it will evolve. However, fresh gaming experiences will always be in vogue. As technology penetrates, we will likely see more significant 3D video gaming trends in 2024 and beyond.
We, as a software development company, expect the biggest trends in game development to gain momentum faster than they did in the past. As already mentioned earlier, the mobile gaming industry will be dominated by AR or VR. Furthermore, these technological trends will have a significant impact on the development of mobile games in the future.