The gaming industry experienced a significant surge during the pandemic when the time spent gaming boomed as people were stuck in lockdown. While regular users leveraged gaming as a way to kill time, video game developers, famous gamers, and publishers took advantage of the situation and contributed to a flourishing sector in the middle of a pandemic.

Considering the focus on gaming, multiple improvements were made to developing online games, leading to further innovations. The metaverse introduced the possibility of play-to-earn ecosystems where gamers are incentivized with Ethereum while artificial intelligence builds a new frontier for how expanded gaming environments can be.

Regardless, the change is happening now, and the latest technological developments trigger massive improvements in industries like gaming. Let’s discuss some of them.

Remakes will be leading the market

For gamers who are nostalgic for games like Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Doom or Final Fantasy, nothing could be better than playing an upgraded version. While most of these games were released at the beginning of the gaming industry’s extended accessibility, their quality remained poor compared to the new games.

Considering the massive fanbases of some of these games, remakes will most likely boom on the market. For instance, a new instalment of Final Fantasy VII was already released. The Rebirth version was so well-received due to new versions of the game and improvements that it was nominated for the best game of the year.

Silent Hill 2 is another famous game that will be released in 2024 with fresh visuals and features, and fans have gone wild about it. The game is considered to be the crème de la crème, a genius psychological horror, and the remake will surely be a hit.

Prince of Persia, The Witcher and Riven are only a few of the games that the public will welcome in a new form. Therefore, we can say that remaking old games will never get old because as technology develops, the uniqueness of the game can be experienced in a superior way, enhancing customer loyalty among gaming companies.
 

More immersive games

Immersive game worlds gained massive popularity recently with the emergence of AI, VR and AR. While games can capture everyone’s attention with the proper flow, storyline and extreme realism, this element can be taken to the next level by high-tech methods.

Some of the most immersive games include The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Death Stranding and Fallout 4. But imagine playing these games through augmented reality, making you feel like you’re there. Interactions are close to the real world, and the enhanced visuals take you to a deep state of flow.

These full-body experiences enhanced by sensorial features and simulations are the new age of gaming, where sitting all day on a chair is not fun anymore. With the right technology, people could be playing their favorite games while performing physical activity, allowing them to get some exercise and enjoy an incredibly-build world.

Blockchain and Web3 gaming

As we move towards a new industry, we can’t help but notice how blockchain has made its way into this sector. From allowing digital assets to be transacted to being one of the most reliable networks for companies, blockchain gaming is still in development due to certain impediments. Still, it has the potential to create a new successful branch in gaming.

Massive companies like Activision have already approached the subject of NFT collectibles as loot crates in games, and they’ve been successful considering the latest issues with in-game collectibles. Blockchain has also triggered the play-to-earn sector, where gamers make efforts to get incentivized on platforms like Axie Infinity while having fun.

Web3 gaming is based on player-driven playing, ownership and decentralization. The technologies behind these features include smart contracts, digital wallets and Web3 libraries. Some of these creations have already been released, such as CryptoKitties, Ember Sword and Skyweaver.

Gaming as a Service (GaaS)

While most users have to buy and install their games, this practice becomes less feasible as hardware requirements are sometimes expensive and ever-changing. That’s why GaaS, or cloud gaming, is on the rise because it follows a simple principle that most streaming services do. You can stream any game on your laptop, tablet or smartphone through fast internet speed, allowing gamers to access all sorts of games. Cloud gaming offers no device limitation, enhanced security and compatibility with multiple devices. At the same time, pricing is more affordable.

GaaS might also come just in time to be compatible with 5G, perfectly blending the immersive experience with the improved features. However, this new emergence might trigger massive competition between companies, leading to considerable sacrifices for reaching the customer and maintaining their loyalty.

Fitness Gaming

Fitness gaming might end people’s negative opinions about video games. While indeed prolonged hours playing games are not advised for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, playing games should not be stigmatized. Therefore, players can now enjoy their time while doing some physical activity through AVG (active video games).

This new ecosystem can be leveraged through proper VR gadgets through which users can be transported to a fitness centre to perform regular exercises. The experience might be perfect for those who have never hit the gym and encourage them to take it to the next level or at least exercise at home.

Some of the greatest AVG include Just Dance, Beat Saber, and Wii Fit, but their technology could be improved by offering high-tech immersion and unique experiences. These games are also great to play with friends, so they enhance both individuals' lifestyles and social activities.

Bottom line

The gaming industry has developed considerably in the past years, with technology contributing to enhanced visuals and better experiences. VR and AR developed significantly, while storytelling became an essential part of good-written games. But now, new concepts will be introduced to improve gaming, from artificial intelligence and blockchain to continuous remakes and reboots. As always, the gaming sector never ceases to surprise users, and developers are getting more creative than ever.