Trying to predict the future of gaming is a very dangerous thing to do. With the technological advances that we have seen over the past few years – and can expect over the next decade – confidently proclaiming what will definitely happen in the world of online gaming is virtually impossible.
We have seen the rise of online betting and casino sites – powered in no small way by the way we that use our smartphones and apps – and live streaming has become second nature to anyone who either regularly plays or gambles online. Is this live element of gaming going to be the future?
A brief overview
Live streaming of games has become big business. Twitch was already a big player in the market when YouTube decided that it wanted a piece of the action – and if huge corporations such as YouTube are getting involved, then you know that something is happening.
Gaming had previously been a relatively solo experience, with gamers and gamblers quite happy to get on with their favorite games in their own time and compare experiences with like minded folk whenever they got the chance. However, once a live element was introduced, everything changed. Being able to share the experience and play with – and against – friends and strangers has taken the gaming world by storm.
Live action
There are, of course, different types of “live gaming”. Recently, there has been an uptake in the old role-playing-type games where gamers interact in a physical sense and “play out” the characters, completing missions along the way in real life.
Advances in smartphone app technology have obviously helped with this and brought these types of games into the 21st century. You only need to look at the popularity of Pokémon GO to see how these types of games can hit the mainstream.
Creating interaction
Some of the most popular sections at online gaming and betting sites these days are the areas set aside for live games. The ability to play hands of poker or blackjack with fellow competitors as if they are in the same room – even though they could be on the other side of the world – is highly attractive.
Bringing that real-life experience to gaming is extremely popular and shows that when it comes to casinos, customers and users do enjoy the interaction and real competition that live gaming brings. Whether it is just a live dealer or live games rooms, www.stakers.com has a whole host of traditional table games available and customers can enjoy a really immersive experience.
Group experiences
The phenomenal rise of e-sports shows that there is a lot of money to be made from live events and lots of gamers enjoying the same game at the same time. With the best e-sports gamers having their own fans, it is an area that will only grow over the next few years.
ESPN has recently added a dedicated e-sports sector to its business, and online betting sites have been keen to get in on the action as they have seen just how popular these worldwide events have become.
Technological advances
Live gaming is undoubtedly the future, but the question really should be, how much further can the games makers go? Our appetite for more “real-life” experiences – even if they are through remote streaming – has grown and shows no sign of stopping soon.
Virtual reality is big in the gaming industry, and there are a number of companies looking to take it to the next level. Feeling like you are actually in the make-believe world that you can see thanks to VR technology would blow anyone’s mind who experienced the basic graphics of video games in the late 20th century.
Studies suggest that people still want to have interaction with their games, and the idea of augmented reality, where you can literally see your opponents sitting opposite you, seems to tick these kinds of boxes – but will just “seeing” your adversaries be enough for tomorrow’s gamers?
The future?
Boldly predicting the future of anything is an unwise move. When it comes to anything related to technology, it becomes an absolutely crazy thing to do.
Live gaming in the broadest sense of the term is undoubtedly the future of gaming, but what that actually means will depend on the kinds of technology that the gaming industry develops in the next few years. The only thing that we can be sure of is that it will be a lot of fun finding out.