The gaming industry has come a long way since the introduction of Pong in the 1970s. The sector has grown to be a multi-billion-dollar industry, with new technologies and platforms emerging every year. From console gaming to mobile gaming, the industry has evolved significantly, with no signs of slowing down. In this article, we will explore how the gaming industry is set to evolve in the coming years tapping into thoughts from an industry veteran, Sean Barger. He is a pioneering visionary and thought leader in the gaming and technology industries with an illustrious career spanning over 30 years.
His impact on the gaming industry has been significant, with over 55 titles to his credit, and since having revolutionized the way we consume and create content with his companies groundbreaking technologies.
Mr. Barger’s most notable achievement in gaming was is his work on Tetris. As the first producer of Tetris in the United States at Spectrum Holobyte where he started as their first Producer in 1987, he developed versions of the game for multiple platforms, including PC DOS, Apple] [+, Apple] [ gs, Macintosh, Macintosh Color, Commodore 64, Atari ST and Amiga. His contributions to Tetris helped popularize the game in the US and secure its place in gaming history.
There has been recent confusion related to who actually produced the first commercial versions of the game in the U.S., but simply researching Mr. Barger’s gameography on Moby Games which has all the boxes, and manuals with dates, sets the record straight. In the recent Tetris movie on Apple+, the discovery of Tetris at the Consumer Electronics Show was actually the massive Tetris hit produced by Mr. Barger, originally released in 1988, well before the Nintendo Gameboy release.
It was clear that the Nintendo Gameboy version effectively duplicated game play from the original versions on PC’s, including how pieces fit, rotated, and were removed from the board.
Mobile Gaming Takes Over
One of the biggest changes in the gaming industry is the shift towards mobile gaming. With smartphones and tablets becoming more powerful, it has become easier for game developers to create games that are engaging and entertaining on mobile devices. In fact, mobile gaming has overtaken console and PC gaming in terms of revenue generated.
According to a report by App Annie, mobile gaming will generate $120 billion in revenue by the end of 2021. This is a significant increase from the $77 billion generated in 2017. The report also predicts that mobile gaming grew and accounted for 60% of the overall gaming market in 2021.
The Rise of Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming is another trend that is set to revolutionize the gaming industry. With cloud gaming, gamers do not need a powerful gaming PC or console to play the latest games. Instead, the games are streamed to their devices from servers located in data centers.
The advantages of cloud gaming are numerous. Gamers can play the latest games without having to upgrade their hardware, and they can play on any device with an internet connection. Cloud gaming also makes it easier for game developers to create games that are accessible to a wider audience.
According to a report by Markets and Markets, the cloud gaming market is expected to grow from $1.15 billion in 2018 to $3.08 billion by 2023. The report attributes this growth to the increasing demand for low-latency gaming, the increasing popularity of online multiplayer games, and the growing number of gamers worldwide.
Virtual and Augmented Reality Gaming
Virtual and augmented reality gaming is another trend that is set to change the gaming industry. With virtual reality, gamers can enter a completely new world, while augmented reality adds a layer of virtual elements to the real world. These technologies have been around for a few years, but they are only now becoming more accessible to the average gamer.
According to a report by Zion Market Research, the virtual and augmented reality gaming market is expected to grow from $7.7 billion in 2019 to $42.5 billion by 2025. The report cites the growing adoption of virtual and augmented reality technology as a key driver of this growth.
Esports Goes Mainstream
Esports is another trend that has been gaining traction in recent years. Esports involves competitive video gaming, with professional gamers competing in tournaments for large prizes. The industry has grown significantly in recent years, with major tournaments attracting millions of viewers.
According to a report by Newzoo, the esports market generated $1.08 billion in revenue in 2021. This is a significant increase from the $194 million generated in 2014. The report also predicts that the number of esports enthusiasts worldwide reached 474 million by the end of 2021.
The Future of Gaming – The future will be decentralized
The gaming industry has come a long way since the days of Pong, and it shows no signs of slowing down. With the rise of mobile gaming, cloud gaming, virtual and augmented reality gaming, and esports, the industry is set to become even more diverse and exciting. Most importantly, Web 3 will usher in a new era of gaming “on-chain” where coins or bonus’ earned add up to real rewards in a metaverse, arcade game or just about any type of game where there’s potential for payouts and bonus deliveries. You can expect big changes in the types of games you will see and the stakes for playing them. With technologies like CPUcoin’s decentralized Computing Global Network, or third generation tier 1 networks such as wire.network, you can expect a whole new level of emersion and real-life earnings to be delivered on-the-fly to players wallets.