With E3 2019s introduction of a new gaming console from Microsoft and the announcement of an abundance of games, most notably Cyberpunk 2077; the gaming industry has taken a huge leap. We are on the verge of taking another step to a better generation of gaming. The development in the gaming technologies and with every passing new engine of game, new trends are imminent. We have seen trends like Pokemon Go, come and go. And then came fortnite and PUBG. With every passing day, we are always sure of one thing, the trends don’t stay the same.
Here are top 5 emerging trends in 2019:
1. Mobile Gaming and Megareel
In 2018 we saw a massive boom in mobile gaming, globally. This was particularly significant with the release of PUBG mobile. This was basically the compressed and redesigned version of the Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds by Blue Hole for PC. Statistics suggest that there are 209.5 million US mobile gamers in 2019. Which will rise to 213 million in 2020. Games like Megareel are toping the charts. Current smartphones compared to the entire scene even 5 years ago, are like flying cars and dinosaurs. Though the contemporary smartphones are powerful, but they lack the punch that a PC or a console pack. Nevertheless, this is an industry, all the big names like Ubisoft and EA are focused on. With the new Diablo being released exclusively for mobile, this industry is definitely a blooming one.
2. Battle Royals
The only reason why this isn’t in the first place is that it is dying already. Or at least it seems dying. Battle Royals have been an integral part of 2018 and the beginning of 2019 and still has chances in 2020 with the announcement of Rainbow Six Quarantine, which will allegedly feature a new Battle Royal mode. From Fortnite to Apex legends. The free battle royal games are still ruling. People still pay for a different sort of battle royal experience, like for PUBG or the Call of Duty Blackout. But we still need to wait to see what 2020 holds for us.
3. Co-op Gaming
I definitely have to start this by mentioning the announcement of Ubisoft’s The Division 2. Co-op gaming is going to see a massive boom in 2019-20. If you haven’t played The Division or were disappointed by the unfulfilled promises the game made, this might just be the turning point for you. In The Division 2 you team up with your buddies to take on the post-apocalyptic Washington DC. With this boom, Ubisoft’s 2014 flagship Assassin’s Creed Unity which featured a very unique co-op saw a massive rise too. With most of the future games having featured co-op modes, including Cyberpunk 2077, I believe the Co-op scene will see a cult following.
4. VR
Remember that one scene from Aerosmith’s “Amazing” music video. Where the guy puts on a huge box on his eyes and enters the world of game. That was in 80s, welcome to the future. Virtual Reality has been a thing for a while now. And while you may feel it is really cool to see PewDiePie go to VR chat and have fun, you can do it too. But VRs are expensive, and the high-end ones may require you to have an entire room dedicated to it. We are yet to see what 2019-20 has in store for the VR market.
5. Minecraft
I don’t know how or why this, already dead, game suddenly saw a massive rise. Minecraft was a meme until it became a massively played videogame for youngsters. This particularly rose after Youtuber PewDiePie started playing it. Minecraft is also available for mobile and has in store a very unique style of play. If you want to check it out, you certainly won’t be disappointed.
The massive changes the next generation of consoles will bring will be worth watching. Microsoft already announced X box’s project Scarlett, while Sony is yet to announce Play Station 5. Whatever be their release date, we can be sure for one thing, being a gamer in 2019 is a wonderful experience.