The gaming industry’s growth has been explosive in recent years, and it doesn’t look like that trend will slow down anytime soon. In fact, major trends are emerging on the horizon that will likely impact the industry even more over the next few years. So if you’re interested in what the future holds for this booming part of the entertainment industry, read on to discover six major gaming industry trends to watch out for in 2022.
1) AI
artificial intelligence will be integrated into more and more gaming developments. So far, AI is most commonly used for developing NPC’s (non-player characters) that can interact with gamers in a believable way, but Artificial Intelligence game is one of our top six predictions for gaming industry trends 2022, as it will expand beyond NPC’s and into other areas of development. The best example of an Artificial Intelligence game is Auro: The Golden Prince, which has been praised by players for its lifelike interactions between different characters. Latest online casino games could be a good example of AI.
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2) Virtual Reality
Virtual reality gaming is likely going to be one of biggest trends as we move towards 2022. VR game hardware will improve, allowing users greater and more realistic immersion. Today’s models offer a full view of your surroundings, which is great—but by 2022, they’ll feel more like an actual environment than a simulation. Developers will also start making use of haptic technology that allows you to touch and feel virtual objects. And while today’s VR games are designed for individual play, companies are already working on multiplayer experiences that allow multiple players to interact with each other in virtual environments. You might even see some hybrid games that incorporate physical activities into virtual reality gaming sessions. The possibilities are endless!
3) Augmented Reality
One of gaming’s most interesting trends is going to be augmented reality (AR), which will enable players to use their environment as part of their gaming experience. For example, imagine you are playing a first-person shooter and trying to sneak your way through a city. Using AR, you could literally look out at an apartment building and see if it offers good cover—or whether it would be easier for you to shoot your way through an alleyway instead. Playing real money casino could be a best use of your relaxed time.
4) VR/AR Advertising
$3.2 billion is expected to be spent on VR/AR advertising by 2023, a figure that represents growth of more than 150 percent. This is due, in part, to a growing number of marketing and advertising firms turning their attention toward VR/AR. Though it’s too early to tell how effective these campaigns will be, they’re certainly gaining attention as a result of positive results like Samsung Gear VR sales tripling following its ad partnership with Starbucks.
5) Smartphones
The rise of smartphones has made it more convenient than ever before to play games on-the-go, meaning mobile gaming will continue to be one of biggest forces in game development. Indeed, experts predict that by 2022, mobile gaming revenue will account for 69% of all game development money spent online; and those numbers don’t even take into account VR/AR and AI gaming revenue—which are also expected to continue growing steadily over time.
6) Video Game Streaming
Streaming and cloud computing are technological forces that have reshaped how people interact with software. Already, gaming has been altered significantly by streaming services like Xbox Live and Sony’s PlayStation Network. As more gamers embrace online play and move away from physical copies of video games, it’s likely that gaming consoles will be completely cloud-based by 2022. This shift will lead to new forms of user engagement with games—not to mention several emerging opportunities and challenges for business owners interested in entering or expanding into the industry.
Conclusion
2022 will see a number of changes affecting gaming as a whole. The popularity of online gaming will continue to increase, as will efforts from developers and publishers alike to improve graphics, incorporate artificial intelligence into games, and develop entirely new products that expand on traditional expectations of what constitutes a game. The following predictions are less about individual games than they are about overarching trends and ideas that will influence many industries over time. Make sure you’re paying attention—online gaming is going nowhere but up, after all!
