The gaming industry has changed so much over time that it keeps getting harder to identify where it started and how many updates were brought to the classic games everyone used to play.
We have played games since ancient times. As time passed and we evolved, games changed, too. These days, they are bound to change again, as many new technologies are developed and can contribute to the gaming industry.
While some years ago, we could only move a worm in a field where it could get bigger and bigger, today, we can be part of fantastic universes with intriguing stories and surprising graphics.
So, everything changes at a surprising speed, and so does the gaming industry. With the help of many advanced technologies, games can improve, leading to more interactive gameplay and a significantly enhanced user experience.
But how do new technologies actually influence the development of new games and the improvement of existing ones?
Online Gaming, Redefined
Gaming is one of the few industries that can be shaped in so many ways, benefiting from plenty of technologies, all with a positive user experience in mind. As we mentioned before, online gaming has changed a lot in recent years, and this is for the best.
While some users are scared of new technologies and their power to change the ordinary, all they do is come, see, and improve. The gaming industry allows developers to play with various concepts to provide immersive experiences to worldwide players.
Just as crypto changed how we use and look at assets, other technologies can change how we play various games, be they new concepts or the old but catchy classics. Mentioning crypto was not a mistake, as it has highly contributed to developing the gaming industry.
Blockchain
Crypto is the industry that made blockchain technology popular worldwide. All cryptocurrencies are developed on top of P2P (Peer-to-Peer) networks, and this comes with significant advantages. As many of you probably already know, blockchains provide surprising levels of security, privacy, decentralization, and scalability.
The decentralized nature of peer-to-peer networks can make blockchain-based games safer and easier to interact with. Furthermore, a game that uses blockchain technology can benefit from NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens).
Such digital collectibles can assure the ownership of specific in-game assets. Furthermore, NFTs can be traded on public marketplaces, thus providing some profits from playing a certain blockchain game.
Besides, a blockchain-based game will always use cryptocurrencies. This allows users to buy and sell in-game assets in order to have an even better gaming experience. Usually, blockchain games function with their native token.
Move-to-Earn and Play-to-Earn
During the past few years, some types of blockchain games have become surprisingly popular. This is why you have probably heard of play-to-earn (P2E) and move-to-earn (M2E) games.
Play-to-earn may be the most popular type of blockchain game on the market. In a P2E game, users have to play in order to win crypto tokens. For instance, if you find a P2E game with dragon battles, you will have to compete against other players to make your dragons win and receive free tokens. Those tokens can either be used to purchase in-game assets or withdrawn to be traded on major cryptocurrency exchanges.
On the other hand, move-to-earn games require players to move to win crypto. Whether it’s about walking, jogging, dancing, or running, an M2E game will help you improve your health while also being rewarded with tokens you can then use in the game or trade on crypto trading platforms.
You may also find games that combine move-to-earn and play-to-earn features to offer users an even better gaming experience and multiple ways to earn crypto. Such a game is SpaceCatch, where players can earn the native token of the game by simply moving to explore the universe or by competing in various battles.
Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) allows game developers to integrate virtual game elements with the physical environment in real-time, and this can make a game surprisingly more realistic.
While players need to move in order to explore their surroundings, this feature can be truly intriguing, as it can show them in-game characters and other elements right in front of them by using the environment they can also see in real life.
This combination of the real and the virtual can lead to an immersive experience for players, allowing them to fully enjoy the gameplay while being challenged to move as much as possible in order to discover as much as possible.
AR gaming gained remarkable popularity a few years ago when Pokémon GO was released. Seeing the surprising success of the game, many developers started to work on more games that could offer users similar experiences. These days, you have hundreds of AR games to choose from.
Artificial Intelligence
We all have seen how much AI could change the industries and products we often interact with. From customer service and hiring to other types of chatbots or platforms allowing process automation, AI technology can contribute to streamlining many daily processes.
Gaming cannot be left behind, and AI plays a significant role in developing advanced games. A game that uses AI can respond to players’ inputs dynamically, making the gaming experience more engaging, according to a user’s behavior and choices.
Final Thoughts
The gaming industry has changed so much over time that it keeps getting harder to identify where it started and how many updates were brought to the classic games everyone used to play.
While some years ago, we were used to making a little worm move so that it does not touch its tail or help Pac-Man eat all the dots without meeting the goats, these days, we’re not so surprised to see that some games combine virtual elements with the world we see behind our phones.
Newer technologies, such as AI (Artificial Intelligence), AR (Augmented Reality), crypto, and blockchain, constantly contribute to improving players’ experiences when interacting with various games. The gaming industry is on its way to progressing even more, and with the evolution of such advanced technologies, the gameplay will only improve from now on.