Online Gaming and How It Evolved

It is virtually impossible to talk about human culture in general without mentioning the impact games have had on their development over the years. Be that board and card games or games with virtual reality components — they have changed our lives.

What’s more, games have evolved alongside modern life. In recent decades, online gaming has taken over as the world’s leading form of gaming and positioned itself as one of the most profitable industries generally. The 1970s marked the inception of electronic gaming, but the 1990s were the marquee decade that announced its introduction to the mainstream sphere.

 

The History of Online Gaming 

The sharp ascent of online gaming as the top form began in the 1990s thanks to the general internet services being accessed by millions of people. The endless opportunities brought by the internet were first used by the digital storefront called Steam that allowed users to buy and review games online, opening up a whole new sphere of business. 

One of the first games that benefited significantly from the shift to the online world was World of Warcraft, raking millions in profit from over ten million active subscribers. In 2007, the online gaming world set its course towards mobile gaming, and big tech companies quickly jumped the bandwagon. Apple was the first one to offer in-app purchases for games. 

By 2015, there were over 1.5 billion gamers worldwide, and it was only a matter of time before they would simply start looking for something fresh and new. That new and exciting gaming experience came in the form of augmented reality games, such as Pokémon Go which still holds the record for being the biggest selling mobile game in its first month on sale. 

The rapid development of online gaming has led to stunning achievements, such as Google’s Stadia, a cloud gaming platform that allows players to enjoy games even without a console. 

The Main Components of Online Gaming 

Newcomers to the world of online gaming can be confused with some interchangeable terms, such as online gaming and esports. The point is that esports is just one of the integral parts of the online gaming family. Online gaming couldn’t work so proficiently if it weren’t for different system components that work like a well-oiled machine. 

It all starts with the game developers who create games that use complex software solutions to bring the best gaming experience to players. Then, the game publishers take over and make the games available to the broad public. However, games wouldn’t mean much without the actual gaming consoles and electronic infrastructure required to launch them. This is where hardware developers come into play. 

It is also impossible to overlook the importance of gaming arenas — venues for hosting gaming events, and the work done by distributors and resellers that spread the games and make them available in retail. The streaming services are helping distributors, as potential buyers can see live streams of people playing the games, making them want to try the games themselves. 

All these components of online gaming make up a delicate ecosystem of gaming and help boost the industry’s revenue.
 

Mobile Gaming Is the Future Of Gaming 

There probably isn’t a larger gaming platform than the mobile one that generates almost half of all gaming revenues from the entire industry. Close to $70 billion came pouring into gaming companies’ coffers from mobile gaming in 2019 alone. It is still considered a relatively new and aspiring segment of the industry, but its development rate is mind-blowing.

More than 2.4 billion people were enjoying mobile games in 2019, half of whom were women. Some future figures suggest that half of all mobile app users open a game app at least once a week, making game apps the third most popular type of mobile apps, behind social media and shopping apps.

You may wonder what fuels such growth. Well, multiple factors can be mentioned here. First, there are new and innovative in-app features that boost players’ retention and loyalty. There are points and extra lives you can get for watching an ad. Then, the social aspect of the games can be seen in multiple forms, such as the social trade where you can share virtual goods and barter with fellow players. In-app purchases of virtual items are also essential in keeping gamers interested in the games. 

The world of mobile gaming is poised to experience another momentous change in its landscape due to the imminent 5G era. A faster internet connection with a 5G network is just one of the many advantages that await and will undoubtedly impact mobile gaming.

Technology and Gaming Bring About New Forms of Entertainment

The growth of gaming was always entwined with the development of technology and the rise of new gadgets and gizmos. Technology pushes the boundaries of gaming, and some new solutions and options are already taking shape.

VR Goggles

Virtual Reality is present in the gaming world through special VR goggles produced by tech companies such as Oculus and Valve. These companies have announced they plan to offer more affordable headsets, which continue to bedim the lines between reality and the world of fantasy. By becoming available in more mass markets, VR games and equipment will get the much-needed push to maintain the momentum and fuel further progress. 

Gaming on a Cloud 

Cloud computing found its way to the gaming arena and is now powering new gaming technologies. Namely, with better internet connections, players now don’t need gaming consoles to experience premium gaming. Games can be streamed from any place and at any time, which opened a whole new way of playing them. 

Personalization in Real-Time 

The future of gaming looks bright, and much of that brightness comes from intuitive systems embedded in games. In the coming years, we will see games that automatically generate highly personalized gaming content that is unequivocally in line with the players’ unique gaming styles and personalities.

This gaming content will be structured according to vast data that gaming companies gather and process, aiming at forever changing the ways people experience games. These personalization features are a perfect breeding ground for various marketing campaigns brands, and advertisers can launch them to improve viewer engagement. 
 

Conclusion 

There is no telling what the future holds. Still, online gaming will undoubtedly be a part of it, with new software and hardware solutions offering fascinating gaming experiences that will even blend the virtual and real worlds into something new and never-before-seen.