The gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. With a turnover of more than $200 billion, the industry is leveraging the power of new technologies like AR/VR, Metaverse, and wearables to become one of the most appealing industries to invest in. Mobile gaming has been disrupting the gaming industry with over 3 billion mobile gamers around the world. The industry has exceeded every milestone whether financially or technically. These game development technologies have been enhancing the gaming experience as well as allowing developers to enhance their skill level to handle the challenges of the gaming industry.
Video games have come a long way from pixelated 2D platformers to the immersive 3D gaming experiences we have today. Thanks to technologies like AR/VR and Metaverse, game developers have been able to tap into the potential of these technologies to develop next-level gaming experiences that shouldn’t have been possible a decade ago.
In this article, we will take a look at the newest game development technologies that have been integral in changing the scenario of the game development industry.
Game Development Technologies
These game development technologies have the power to revolutionalize the gaming industry. Let’s take a look at some of the development technologies that have the potential to transform the game development industry.
Metaverse Development
In addition to games, Metaverses can be entirely social platforms where users can interact, explore, attend events, and buy virtual assets with cryptocurrencies. Many tech giants like Microsoft, Roblox, and Goldman Sachs have already invested millions of dollars in Metaverse technology. Ever since the success of Fortnite music concerts, tech companies have recognised Metaverse’s potential to provide an immersive experience of pure entertainment.
If we look at it from a real-world standpoint, Metaverse has useful real-world applications. It can be used to host remote work meetings, the education sector can leverage the power of Metaverse to create interactive learning experiences, and military training can use Metaverse to create simulations of battlefields. Along with the gaming industry, Metaverse is all set to revolutionalize the world.
Cloud Gaming
Cloud Computing Gaming is not a new technology. The idea for cloud gaming was introduced in the E3 exhibition by G-cluster way back in 2000. It took 22 years for the technology to catch up. Cloud gaming is a boon for low-end devices. How? Cloud gaming allows users to play games across devices without the hardware restrictions of a particular device. The processing power needed to run a game is provided by the Cloud as players can enjoy AAA games on low-end devices.
The only restriction of cloud gaming is that it requires high internet speeds, however, now that 5G is here, developers will be able to bridge the gap in internet speed and cloud gaming will finally be mainstream.
Benefits
- Accessibility: Play high-quality games on any device with internet access.
- 5G Integration: High-speed internet will bridge the gap, making cloud gaming more mainstream.
Blockchain and Play-to-earn
Play-to-earn games have existed in the game development industry for quite a few years. Ever since the advent of Blockchain technology, game developers have been leveraging the power of NFTs to tokenize objects like art, music, and even game characters. However, many game publishers have refuted this concept. Companies like Ubisoft and Square Enix have embraced NFTs. The market for NFTs and blockchain play-to-earn games is emerging and many famous Metaverse games are using NFTs to create interactive gaming experiences.
The concept of play-to-earn games is also very lucrative to gamers. These games have been receiving a lot of audience as the ability to earn real money by playing games is very desired. Moreover, blockchain skeptics are also hopping on this trend.
Benefits
- Earning Potential: Gamers can earn real money by playing.
- Ownership: Players have true ownership of in-game assets.
Artificial Intelligence in Gaming
Artificial Intelligence has been used for years in gaming and is known to enhance the gaming experience. AI in game development has the power to determine whether a game will be a success or failure. Presently, AI introduces NPCs with learning capacities that progress as the game’s storyline progresses.
Moreover, AI and ML are also used in the sports betting industry to provide better suggestions to players and enhance their gaming experience. AI has been constantly used in the game development industry and we can expect a brighter future for this technology in the upcoming years.
Rise of VR Gaming
VR or Virtual Reality offers a highly mesmerizing experience to players. The VR technology allows gamers to interact with game objects within an enclosed space. VR has a bright future ahead as tech giants like Microsoft, Sony, Amazon, Samsung, etc. have already invested in this technology. However, the primary challenge of VR technology is the monumental costs of VR accessories like headsets and HMDs. Although with tech progression, the cost of these accessories will be reduced and they will be more pocket-friendly for casual gamers.
The global revenue from VR accessories also showcases that VR technology will greatly impact the gaming industry in the upcoming years.
Wearable Technology
Wearables like smartwatches, wristbands and fitness rings are usually associated with the health and wellness industry. However, they are gradually penetrating the gaming industry as well. Players can now use a data-tracking wearable drive to keep track of their gaming sessions. It boosts the player’s gaming experience by providing valuable information about gaming sessions attended by players on the go.
Apart from supervising the gamer’s performance in real-time, wearables can also be used to enhance the streaming quality by using different microphones which provides an all-around immersive gaming experience.
Cross-Platform Gaming
Cross-platform gaming is finally here and it will transform the gaming ecosystem. Earlier, players were limited by the lack of funds and technology to access cross-platform gaming. However, with recent game development trends and technological innovations, they can now play games on consoles and across different platforms.
Developers are now focused on creating games that are accessible across different platforms like PC, consoles, and mobiles. Genshin Impact revolutionalised the gaming industry when Mihoyo announced that the AAA game will also be available on Mobile devices after dominating the consoles and PC market.
Final Words
2023 is going to be one of the biggest years where plenty of game development trends will rise up and pave the way for a new era of gaming. AR/VR, AI, and Metaverse will be integral in shaping the new development trends of the game industry. Cross-platform gaming is already going strong and it will be exciting to see how game developers leverage the power of this technology to create new gaming experiences in the upcoming years.
