The future is already here and it’s sweeping everything in its path. The theory of exponential growth – or accelerating returns, as it’s sometimes known – posits that technology will change in a faster and more profound way than we humans can actually keep up with. That means society and culture are always going to be racing to keep up as technology drags us kicking and screaming into the future.
While that might seem like a terrifying idea for the conspiracy theorists amongst us, there’s no denying that we’re living through a golden age of technology. And if those theories of acceleration are anything to go by, then any and every age will be a golden age of technology – so we better get used to it!
But it’s not all scary – in fact, as technology picks up ever more pace, parts of society change for the better. We’re thinking medical advances, engineering that can change people’s lives for the better… and, well, on a less grandiose but still very exciting level, gaming!
Gaming by its very nature is an industry that relies on technology, and it’s never been scared to adapt to and adopt some of the most boundary breaking and forward-thinking technological advancements. The industry’s life depends on it, when you think about it.
So, we’ve taken a dive into some of the hottest topics in gaming right now, and what kind of innovations we might see in the industry in the near future. Because who doesn’t love the marriage of gaming and tech? Onwards!
VR
Virtual Reality is one of the first phrases that comes to mind when we think about a technology that’s set to go on a growth trajectory in the near future. When you think about it, VR and gaming were kind of made to go hand-in-hand together. For an industry that prides itself on the most realistic graphics and lifelike gameplay, a piece of tech that can transport players into the world of the game itself feels like a natural next step.
While some may argue that the actual, physical hardware associated with VR technology is still not at its peak (it’s clunky, heavy and expensive, Oculus, we’re looking at you here!) we can’t see any reason why those current physical limitations can’t be overcome for the thrill of full, 360 immersion into a game’s universe. In fact, we wouldn’t even be surprised if one day we saw whole gaming arcades dedicated to VR gaming. Bring it on!
AR
Augmented Reality – or where the real world is enhanced by elements from a computer generated world – is the little brother to VR, but it’s growing up fast and starting to get its well-deserved moment in the spotlight.
Probably the biggest cultural moment that AR has had was with the supernova-like explosion of Pokemon Go. And let’s face it, the fact that we now all have mobile devices forever glues to our hands means that AR can take greater advantage of everyday, accessible technology like mobile phones, as opposed to waiting for gamers with bankroll being able to afford VR headsets.
Even retail businesses are getting in on the act, as shopping hub LiverpoolONE introduced a dinosaur-themed, family-friendly AR game throughout the summer of 2019, inviting visitors to chase, catch and train dinosaurs using their mobile phones in different parts of the shopping centre.
Choose your own adventure
For the more creative amongst us, we want a bit more of a say with how our games play out. That’s why we think the ‘choose your own adventure’ style of game is going to come back in a major way in the near future. Black Mirror’s Bandersnatch probably helped revived the zeitgeist for games that let the players have a say in which direction the story heads.
We think that this particular trend in gaming is the kind of thing that will seamlessly link up with both AR and VR. Let’s face it, if you’re immersed 360 degrees in the world of a game, you don’t want to be entirely at its peril, right? You’d like a certain element of autonomy there, so you can choose which direction to go, what stones to turn and what adventure you want to go on.
While they may be exercises in eternal logic loops that only the brightest brains would be able to develop – we think that this could have legs for years when it comes to popularity with gamers of the future.
The rise of Twitch
Video platforms have changed the game for many industries. Back when it was just YouTube, it sent a signal loud and clear to TV stations that the internet meant business and it was here to stay. That’s why we have more TV streaming platforms – subscription and otherwise – than we can handle.
Dominating their corner of the internet still, YouTube has seen a huge increase in gaming videos. Because if you can’t actually play, why not enjoy watching someone else play? Ask any football fan and they’ll tell you that spectating is a fine art in itself.
But lately, Twitch has arrived to rival youTube’s dominance when it comes to gaming videos. With everything from people assembling jigsaw puzzles puzzles to Fornite’s most formidable masters – you can even watch people play casino slots – Twitch rivals YouTube purely for the live streaming aspect – it’s all built around creating the feeling that you’re sat next to a friend watching them ace your favourite game. It’s literally building a community out of online gaming.
And that tech has subsequently had an effect on the world around us. Now, it’s not just digital communities that are forming, it’s spilling out to irl events too. Take, for example, the Fortnite World Cup, which took place earlier in 2019. Literally thousands of gamers from all around who may never have met in their day-to-day lives, came together to celebrate the best and brightest players on the globe. When you look at stats like that, whoever thinks that technology was responsible for isolating people must surely have to eat their words!