The Future of Gaming: What It Looks Like & How to Join

With the advent of new technologies, we are starting to see a shift in the way games are made, played, and experienced – defining the future of gaming. But what exactly is fueling these changes, and how can game developers and players help build it? Let’s dive into what this multi-billion dollar industry may bring in the next few years and how you can take part.

Table of Contents

• What does the future of gaming look like?
  • Virtual and augmented reality
  • Artificial intelligence
  • Cloud gaming
  • The rise of game communities
  • The metaverse
• Next-generation games of today: success and challenges
• The games of tomorrow: A summary
  • Useful links

What does the future of gaming look like?

The next generation of gaming is being shaped by a few major forces. First, there’s the rise of new platforms and technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and cloud gaming. 

Then there’s the increasing importance of the metaverse. This will become a shared online space where players can interact with each other in a variety of ways while transacting both information, but also value.

And we couldn’t talk about disruptive innovations in the gaming industry without taking into account the growing importance of gaming communities, their contributions, and all that comes with it.

All these fields make any gamer dream of a world of possibilities, and these novelties are getting closer each day. In fact, it’s already possible to have a taste of some of each gaming experience.

So how can we dip our toes into the future of gaming?

Virtual and augmented reality

Games are becoming more powerful at an accelerating pace. And what creates that power is the line that separates reality from a virtual world – that any player can cross.

With the help of technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), you can immerse yourself in a digital environment or take in-game elements to interact with real-world surroundings.

It’s still early to point out VR games with massive success, but both enthusiasts and companies like Facebook are still invested in building this technology. Sony PlayStation, HTC Vive, and Oculus are just some examples of VR headsets. 

And while Pokemon Go, the mobile hit game launched in 2016, remains the most popular use case of AR, other games are following its steps. Facebook, which also owns the Oculus products, recently announced the Meta Quest 2. This device combines both VR and AR into one. 

Artificial intelligence

Another field that takes mega corporations to invest in gaming is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Over the years, we got to see AI in different areas, from the control of non-player characters (NPC) to the improvement of the gaming experience with the help of analytics.

But the potential goes even further. With the right tools and knowledge, AI can help create and design new game lore stories, generative art, and characters. This alone could accelerate game development greatly as long as the industry knows how to use it – making it not only gamer-oriented but also developer-friendly technology.

Cloud gaming

The cloud is changing the way we live and work. The games of the future will not only be more immersive and exciting, but they will also require less hardware to run.

With the power of the cloud, games can be streamed to any device with internet access, making it possible to play the latest and most demanding games on a budget.

However, cloud technologies require fast, reliable, and affordable internet connections. Therefore cloud technology isn’t well suited for gaming. It’s not without reason that Google recently killed “the Netflix of gaming,” Google Stadia. Nonetheless, there’s an ongoing investment in cloud gaming, and companies like Asus, Intel, Amazon, Nintendo, and Apple all have their own stake.

And it’s not just the big companies who are taking advantage of this technology – there are already a number of startups working on making cloud gaming more accessible to the masses. 

This involvement of developers of all kinds is not only beneficial for the advancement of the industry but also necessary for it to be more plural. That is, less centralized in the hands of the monopolies of large game studios.

Ownership and the rise of game communities

When we speak about the future of games, we need to take into account that game communities play an important role when it comes to reputation and branding.  In these communities, players support the game and then create content and social engagement on other platforms.

Furthermore, user-generated content also requires a dedicated community. The rise of game communities has increased with the adoption of the internet, allowing them to connect, exchange information, and create together. This is something never seen before.

Esports, the competitive scene of video games generated by gamers themselves, is a good example of the importance of the community. It’s not only the platform or the game that matters but the players themselves.

Through esports, there are now teams, fans, supporters, builders, organizers, and so on. This industry alone is worth over $2 billion, completely changing the way games reach the masses independently from corporations – sometimes even attracting giant brands to their world.

A game’s community can make or break a game. The involvement of communities, esports teams, and guilds is getting stronger. 

In this direction, the future of the industry also revolves around giving gaming communities the recognition they deserve. Going even further, the power of each individual player is also going to be acknowledged. 

As a way of controlling their personal, time, and financial investments in games, players will get to own in-game assets with real-world value. This is a turning point for not only how games are built but also how the gaming industry conducts its business. Suddenly the gamer is no longer an idle consumer but an active participant. 

The metaverse

Combining all these futuristic elements, the metaverse is a certain next step for gaming. The metaverse can be seen as the next evolution of the internet, where people will be able to interact and transact with each other through a variety of virtual worlds, gaming spaces, and social hubs.

Metaverse virtual worlds have already been developed, and new ones are popping up all the time. Besides implementing gaming elements, these are also environments that allow social interactions and businesses to thrive without barriers.

That means that any real-world aspect of communicating, playing games, creating content, and even making money is possible in a metaverse.

Next-generation games of today: success and challenges

While all the talk of the future seems distant and idealistic, some studios and developers are already committed to innovating gaming experiences.

Here are some interesting games that take you on a time-travel journey to what the future of gaming may be.

• The Sandbox: a virtual world where landowners can make their own game, comparable with Minecraft and Roblox;
• Guild of Guardians: a mobile action RPG where players use game characters to battle through dungeons. Team play is encouraged through social guilds;
• Gods Unchained: a trading card game with strong competitive elements, where players can earn card packs and tokens, upgrade cards and join in tournaments.

Blockchain technology helps gamers to get ownership over digital assets. This can be in-game currencies, virtual land, game items, or rewards. Some of those games can already be found through DappRadar, for example, through the Game Rankings.

The games of tomorrow: A summary

The future of the gaming industry is looking bright. With the rise of new technologies, the democratization of the industry, and the empowerment of gaming communities, there are endless possibilities for the next generation of games.

So, if you’re looking to join the gaming industry, now is the time to get started.

At DappRadar, we are always following the latest gaming trends and making sure everyone has access to informative and useful information.

Want to learn more about blockchain gaming? Please follow these steps:

1. Learn from our beginners’ guides on the blog;
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3. Make an account on DappRadar, subscribe to our newsletter, and start participating in the future of Web3 and gaming through our community. 

We hope you enjoyed getting to know a bit more about what the future of gaming looks like. Make sure to follow DappRadar on Twitter to join our community.

Useful links

• Gaming: DappRadar’s Ultimate Guide
• What Are Play-to-Earn Games and Why Play Them?
• The Ultimate Guide to Playing Games & Earning Crypto

The above does not constitute investment advice. The information given here is purely for informational purposes only. Please exercise due diligence and do your own research.