The evolution of the gaming industry: What can you expect in 2022?
The gaming industry has come a long way from ancient titles like Pac-Man or Super Mario. The industry has become massive, with reports projecting it to reach well above $500 billion by 2028. But what has the evolution of the gaming industry brought to all of us?
We can recognize many different trends that influenced one of the biggest businesses of our age. However, six of them stand out as the main features. We’ll check them out in this post.
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6 big trends in the gaming industry
Some video gaming trends are bigger than others. That’s a simple fact that no one can dispute because these six trends are groundbreaking indeed. Let’s check them out one by one.
1. Gaming consoles have become more powerful
One of the most notable trends in the gaming industry is that consoles have become more powerful than ever. The PlayStation 4, which was released in 2013, has a processor clock speed of 1.6GHz and 8GB GDDR5 memory (shared between the CPU and GPU).
The Xbox One X, launched four years after its predecessor, has a 2.3GHz processor and 12GB GDDR5 dedicated memory to the GPU. Sony and Microsoft have even skipped an 8-gigabyte RAM module, which means that consoles will likely become more powerful than PCs in the upcoming future.
To put it simply, they are becoming good enough to handle just about any game in the video gaming universe.
2. Online casino games are a big deal
Perhaps you haven’t noticed, but online casino games are getting increasingly popular. It’s only natural, given that you can play them at any time of the day or night, without having to go through the hassle of leaving your home.
It seems like every other person is playing slots nowadays, either on their desktop PC or mobile device. Although the games are changing daily, there is one thing that remains constant, the best free spins no deposit always remains a quality indicator that signals a great online casino. If you are a passionate casino gamer, you can use this feature to play with easy and earn some serious money.
3. Mobile gaming keeps booming
If you thought that mobile gaming was a trend, think again. It’s growing at an exponential rate – and it’s expected to be worth $63 billion by the end of this year.
The emergence of smartphones has made the technology accessible for people from all walks of life, which means that more and more gamers will likely pick up their phones as soon as they have a spare minute.
The most popular smartphone games include those from the casino genre, as well as strategy and action titles. No matter what your taste might be, you can always find a suitable mobile game for yourself.
4. Augmented reality is growing in popularity
The technology behind augmented reality (AR) has been around for quite some time now. However, it didn’t really become popular until the Pokemon Go phenomenon hit the market in 2016.
Since then, AR games have become increasingly common and enjoyed by all kinds of people. Technology giants like Apple are playing an important role in making this trend grow even bigger in the years to come.
Augmented reality makes it possible for gamers to get involved with games that are more interactive than ever before. This has helped to bring new life into different titles, while also attracting people who aren’t familiar with gaming culture at all.
5. Virtual reality offers immersive experiences
Another technology that has had a massive impact on the gaming industry is virtual reality (VR). Although it’s still new to most gamers, VR offers some truly immersive experiences for those who are willing to give it a chance.
These include playing games in first-person perspective or even feeling as though you are part of the action thanks to responsive head-tracking technology. There are plenty of RPGs and also tactical games that can be played in VR, which means that this technology has great potential for the future.
6. Esports is getting bigger
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning the fact that esports is gradually growing into a massive industry. It first emerged as a concept in the late 1990s and has only started gaining momentum over the past few years.
Nowadays, there are multiple titles competing for attention, including Hearthstone and League of Legends. Their player bases have continued to grow steadily over the years, no matter if you are talking about casual or hardcore gamers.
One thing that’s for certain is that esports will continue to be an important part of the gaming industry in 2022. And why wouldn’t it? It has all the right ingredients to become a big hit on a global scale, thanks to its accessibility and high entertainment value.
The bottom line
Do you remember the gaming industry of the 1990s? If you do, you have witnessed tons of changes ever since! In this post, we discussed some of the most influential trends of video gaming in 2022. Which one do you believe to be the most important?
AUTHOR BIO
Leslie Alexander is an online gamer and a content lead at Gamblizard. She is interested in all types of video games and the latest casino games. Besides that, Leslie loves traveling and long-distance running.