4 Ways Online Gaming Landscape Is Changing

It is easy to conclude that user demand is fueling the gaming world. The industry is estimated at $347 billion, and there is reason to believe it will continue to do better. Another thing worth noticing is the lightning speed at which it’s changing. From the 2D Xtrek to live gaming, the industry continues to churn out new features for users’ playing pleasure. In the meantime, here are some ways the online gaming landscape is changing.

Cloud Gaming Revolution

This has been one of the most transformative changes in the online gaming landscape. Cloud gaming runs on high-quality 3D and 4D content via the internet, making gaming hardware obsolete. Many players can access their favorite cloud games on smartphones and other digital devices. What is more impressive is that users can play cloud games on low-end PCs—a feat that couldn’t be achieved on certain machines that require powerful gaming hardware.

Cloud gaming has provided a level playing field and reduced the barrier that existed before. Thanks to stable internet connections, newcomers can select their favorites and enjoy discussing their progress with the online gaming community. The introduction of cloud gaming has merged different gaming ecosystems, allowing it to appeal to more users. Gaming ecosystems refer to services that enable you to live stream any game of your choice as long as you have a reliable internet connection. Avid online gamers cannot wait for what comes next after the cloud gaming revolution.

The Rise of Mobile Gaming

Tetris is the earliest known mobile gaming on any handheld device. This Tetris variant was launched in 1994 and thrived only on the Hagenuk MT-2000 device. Three years later, Nokia introduced its first-ever pre-installed game, Snakes, on its devices. Since then, mobile gaming has developed in leaps and bounds. Today, you will find a diverse range of mobile gaming content sharply different from its almost three-decades-old predecessors. Modern mobile gaming content is no longer casual and simple; instead, it is intricate and increasingly strategic to win a single round of play.

You can now understand why mobile gaming has grown exponentially since it was first introduced in the early to mid-90s. What could be responsible for the sharp rise in mobile gaming? It could be due to advancements in graphics and multiplayer features. You could also say the 85.82% global smartphone penetration rate explains this trend. More people will play games on their smartphones because of the accessibility.

Social Gaming Evolution

This is slightly different from multiplayer games, where you compete with each other for the ultimate prize. New features allow you to connect, share, and invite others on social media platforms. Today, classic online card games like solitaire allow players to do more than they could before. With social features, you can now share your achievements with others. Even better, you can engage in friendly competition on this classic online card game.

That explains why you see links to popular online games on Facebook, where friends share gaming progress and more. The next time you choose an online game, learn more about its social features and what else they can do. If you are like some players who don’t wish to disclose their gaming status on social media, you may want to stay away. Fortunately, many online games are bound by ethical rules that help protect your identity.

User-generated Content and Virtual Economies

Do you like to play Minecraft or Roblox? If yes, you may be familiar with creating personal experiences in the virtual world. For example, you can build elaborate structures or even design an entire game to enhance player experience. The question now is, why is the gaming landscape moving towards user-generated content? It may be time to shift your attention to the developers and what they hope to attain.

It’s the first thing that comes to mind in a competitive gaming world. The introduction of virtual economies has gained popularity. Even more surprising is the fact that it has quickly gained real-world value. There’s no denying how alluring that can be, and you may even realize it’s why you play your favorite online games every day. However, remembering to exercise caution is crucial, especially when a gaming platform asks for your financial information. Do you trust the source? Have other players expressed concerns about disclosing critical information? Cybercrime has escalated to online games, so protect your identity and money, no matter what.

From all indications, more innovation is to be introduced in the online gaming landscape—we'll have to wait to see how that goes.