Next-generation consoles were the biggest trend in gaming two years ago. Now that both PS5 and Xbox Series X are out, online gaming is everyone’s focus. The race to dominate virtual gaming is stiffening.
Companies that had large market shares are losing their grip on new startups. Trends people thought would fade away are growing. What’s more, the gaming demographic is changing. Continue reading to discover some of the biggest trends in online gaming today.
Cloud Gaming
More and more people are playing cloud-based games in 2023. The explanation is simple. You don’t need to download these games on your PC or smartphone. That also means you don’t need a lot of hardware space to play your favorite games.
With cloud-based games, all you need is to create an account at a platform that provides the service. Sony’s PlayStation Now, NVIDIA’s GeForce Now, Xbox, and Steam are the leading providers.
The only drawback with cloud gaming is that you need strong Internet to have an awesome experience. Slow Internet will frustrate you on lag-prone websites like GeForce Now and Google Stadia.
Another thing to consider is that each platform has a specific number of games. PlayStation Now provides some games exclusively. And so does Microsoft. This means you may need to subscribe to a few platforms to enjoy unlimited games.
The Rise of Casual Gaming
Online gaming keeps growing because it no longer targets hardcore players only. The majority of games on Steam, Google, and Apple Store target casual players of all backgrounds.
Take Candy Crush Saga as an example. This game generated $1.2 billion in $2021. Yet, it’s a game about crushing candies. It’s fun and re-playable—one of the reasons its fans spent $2.1 billion on in-game products last year.
Casual gaming is not limited to video games. Most people who play online slots and poker in 2023 do it for fun. They might spend a few dollars to make the gameplay exciting. But few people view online gambling as an important source of income.
That being said, you don’t need a lot of money to play casino games online. This list compiled of casinos recommended by online-casinos features some of the best gambling brands in the US.
Many of them have a minimum deposit amount of $10. And if you’re a new customer, they will usually match your deposit amount for a maximum of $1000.
Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming has become so rampant that some manufacturers now sell phones centered on gaming. These devices have been built from the ground up appease gaming enthusiasts.
Take the Asus ROG Phone as an example. It weighs just 247 grams. Yet, it packs a host of incredible features that make it a great phone for both gaming and non-gaming needs.
For example, it has a camera with 50 megapixels on the rear and 13MPs on the front. Then there’s its battery—it’s rated 6,000mAh and has a power life of 10+ hours.
While phones like Asus ROG can elevate your mobile gaming experience, you don’t need to upgrade your current device. Many modern smartphones can run 90% of games on the Play Store smoothly.
Speaking of Play Store games, both Google and Apple feature thousands of diverse mobile games. You can play casual games like Subway Surfers and Candy Crush. Or, you could pick eSports titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile.
VR and AR
Mark Zuckerberg is convinced the future of gaming lies in Virtual Reality. Not only is he investing in Metaverse games, but he also owns VR products for gamers. Some say he’s a little obsessed with the technology.
Although everyone has adopted VR yet, there has been tremendous progress in the last few years. More and more publishers are creating VR games. Examples include Tetris: Effect, Beat Saber, Superhot VR, No Man’s Sky, and Star Wars: Squadrons.
VR’s close relative AR is experiencing the same amount of success. More games supporting AR have come out since the success of Pokémon Go. They include Angry Birds, Jurassic World Alive, and Ingress Prime.
VR and AR will probably grow popular in the coming years. However, this will work only if manufacturers provide high-quality content. Also, hardware manufacturers need to create affordable headsets.
Diversity in Gaming
The days when gaming was a pastime for young men only are long gone. Statistics show women make up 65% of all mobile gamers. Additionally, the racial outlook of gamers is changing.
Just look at popular Twitch streamers. There are plenty of Asian, black, and Latino gamers. Against that backdrop, developers are changing how they approach in-game characters.
Most games now let you choose an avatar you can relate to by race or gender. Additionally, developers are launching games with multiple playable characters. This way, you can select a video game hero that looks like you.
eSports
Electronic sports rose from a small niche in North America to a worldwide multi-billion sector. In 2023, almost every gamer has watched an online gaming competition. Or, they watch gaming content from professional streamers.
ESports gaming brings together talented gamers to highlight their talent in exchange for money. The pay is usually so good that gaming is a full-time job for a growing number of people.
There are two major ways to make money in eSports. You can join an eSports team and compete to win tournaments. Alternatively, you can join Twitch and stream content to millions of fans.
Play to Earn Games
Crypto games lost a bit of popularity after the entire industry crashed in 2022. However, that doesn’t mean people stopped getting involved with crypto projects.
Think about Metaverse games. Yes, NFTs lost hype. However, Metaverse-based games are still popular. If you want to make some quick money as a gamer, one of the best techniques is to play a P2E game.
Play to Earn Games pay you for completing simple missions. For example, Axie Infinity gives you AXS coins for breeding Axie characters successfully. It also gives you another coin called SLP that you can exchange for real money on crypto exchanges.
Disclaimer: Gambling involves an element of financial risk and maybe addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk. This post contains material that may or may not be legal in your country. Please play/not play subject to applicable law.
