The whole gaming industry is rapidly changing. In 2020 we are seeing the entire gaming scene, including console, mobile, AR, VR, and others continuing to shift and change. At one time, it was possible just to ignore streaming video games, but no more. Today in most households, you will find cloud and live streaming taking place, and it is all the more important for game developers to take it seriously. There was a time when playing at a mobile jackpot casino was also not taken seriously, but that too is definitely in the past.
There are lots of new gaming trends, and it is, therefore, important that developers take them on board if they want to succeed in what they are doing and make this year work for them.
Below are six of the leading gaming trends that need to be adopted by developers.
Shift to streaming games owing to the introduction of 5G and Cloud computing
With the introduction of 5G internet, speeds will rise exponentially. This is likely to lead to less of a need to purchase games and more activity in streaming games or, alternatively, just downloading them. Prior to 5G, any app larger than 200MB, you needed to download it using wifi from the App Store. Now it is a different story. This is no longer necessary, and with the new IOS version downloading is unlimited for users.
Another advantage is that users will no longer need to download updates on a regular basis because gamers will likely be using the most up-to-date versions available. There will be significant changes in content because streaming allows for many players on a larger scale. The possibility of fake multiplayer is also over. The only negative factor is that these larger games will need more processing power, and this might cause problems for those with older devices.
With internet connection becoming more and more available and faster and with cloud computing, it is becoming even easier for users to play games from any computer, anywhere. As gaming technology is developing more, installing updates will not be needed. It will be easy to get games updated on the internet and will also mean that video games and esports will be more available and easily accessible to all.
The impact of Apple Arcade on the development of mobile games
Apple Arcade, a new subscription gaming service, was introduced in September 2019. This enabled app store users to get a monthly subscription to access many games having no in-app purchases or extra costs. At the same time, Apple is working together with many of the large gaming companies and also with indie developers to develop “new and exclusive” games that will be available via Apple Arcade. There are presently 50 games available. More games are expected to be added regularly, on a weekly basis, and there are another 100 games scheduled. In 2020 we will likely see more developers interested in working with Apple to develop new games that will be created for Apple Arcade.
Small screens, big franchises
The newest title introduced at E3 2019 called “Call of Duty, is a mobile version of the hit franchise that is good and can be played on a smartphone. The experience is very comparable to the larger versions with many of the same features, including levels taken from the older games. This includes a group put together to create the game’s battle royale map. Trying to create the same experience on a smartphone has often produced a less than satisfactory outcome. Still, with more creative design, the experience is likely to be much improved, and many franchises are likely to go over to mobile.
Handheld consoles on the market
By the 2000s, it was hard to find handheld consoles. Most people had moved onto PlayStation and Xbox for video games. But it seems that there is still a market for handheld mobile devices. Nintendo Switch is a case in point. Nintendo Switch is a handheld gadget and very popular for video games and preferred over the smartphone or tablet. People are still interested in having the experience of high-quality graphics and great performance. These handheld consoles may play an essential role in the future of gaming trends way beyond 2020.
More focus on inclusivity in games
A study by the Global Consumer Insights team found that out of 2253 people in the study, 56% felt that inclusivity was an important factor and that mobile development services should make sure this was the case with their games. Diversity and representation are becoming more and more important for gamers, both video, and mobile gaming.
A series of videos have also been created “Because Games Matter.” These show how influential video games can be in people’s lives.
Holographic Gaming
Hologram technology has been around for a number of years but has still not quite become a feature in the world of commercial gaming. Television screens because of their being subject to a fixed location restrict gamers. Holograms can provide a realistic experience. Also, the introduction of holographic display screens could offer gamers a more complete experience.
Sony Interactive Entertainment took out a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office for a “holographic display screen” last year, and this shows how the holographic display functions.
The holographic display will be usable with PlayStation and also Xbox and Nintendo Switch. It could be used with VR headsets, smartphones, and AR headsets. The patent also indicates that holographic displays can be interconnected, which makes them really useful during gaming tournaments and other big events. The introduction of this holographic display screen represents a change for the industry towards this kind of technology and the ability to integrate with many other platforms.
To conclude
So, during 2020 we are likely to see some significant shifts in the video gaming industry for gaming trends. This could be a really good thing. It is incorporating new technologies that will ultimately improve the consumer experience.
