The video gaming industry is all set to hit the stratosphere in 2023. While 2022 got off to a bit of a sluggish start, with unexpected game releases and long waits for the latest consoles, developers and manufacturers have pulled things together and turned things around just in time.
This year, several trends began to emerge that are spelling out the direction that gaming will take from 2023 and beyond. With gaming now at the height of popularity, reaching over 3 billion people all over the world, here are the five most dominant trends shaping the future of gaming that every geek should know.
Next-Gen Consoles and Games
Here in the digital age, technology development never stands still. As gamers, we’ve been treated to several exciting new developments in recent years, but nothing’s quite had the impact that next-gen gaming consoles have.
With manufacturers having smoothed out the supply chain issues that plagued the start of this year, we can expect to see more next-generation consoles hit the market. In fact, one leading console maker has projected sales of 18 million within the first three months of the year alone.
Of course, the increased availability of cutting-edge consoles will impact the games that are played on them. Triple-A game development is now high on the agenda for publishing houses and games development companies, who are eager to harness all the potential contained within these new pieces of tech.
Social Casinos
Social casinos are an exciting new gaming experience that capitalises on the popularity of both social gaming and iGaming. Via digital platforms like LuckyLand Slots, players can participate in games, including slots online, without having to play for real money.
Like real money iGaming platforms, social casino platforms and gaming apps are designed to replicate the brick-and-mortar gaming experience in the digital realm. And, one of the key attributes of traditional casino gaming is the social element, something that is lacking in traditional digital casinos and poker rooms. Social casinos infuse the digital gaming experience with that crucial element, allowing players to join forces or even compete against each other to get to the top of the leaderboard.
Crossplay
One of the most frustrating things about video gaming for much of the 20th and 21st centuries is that gamers have always had to choose between consoles or to specialise in one platform – such as PC gaming – and stick to it.
It’s taken some time to achieve, but multi-platform gaming is now possible as more premium games are released that support crossplay.
Using crossplay, gamers can connect with friends and gaming communities in the same game, irrespective of which system they’re playing on. What’s more, some developers are even implementing cross-play functionality into older titles, offering multiplayer experiences in old favourites for everyone from console to mobile gamers.
NFT Gaming
Non-Fungible Tokens are the latest crypto craze to sweep the world, and they’re having an impact on the gaming industry too. According to experts, by the end of 2028, NFT gaming will be worth as much as £2.8 billion. If the success of games like Axie Infinity and Defend the Utility are anything to go by, it’s an estimation that will likely be smashed.
The tokenization of in-game assets via NFTs is also giving rise to the play-to-earn gaming model, which essentially sees players rewarded with collectable and tradeable tokens.
Retro Gaming
If you thought the future of gaming was all about brand-new gaming experiences, think again. Retro video games are back with a vengeance and will continue to flood the market throughout 2023.
We’re currently seeing major players like Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft add retro classics to their online offerings. Not only that, but games developers are revisiting and remastering iconic games from the console era, with the re-issue of GoldenEye 007 on the Switch leading the way.
