The Main Indicators of Evolution in the eGaming Industry (Mobile, Blockchain, Online Casino), in the Past Few Years

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have been released fairly recently. These are the two big next-gen gaming consoles and improvements on PS 4 and Xbox One. Although it’s undeniable that hardware specs are better, there aren’t any big leaps in visuals. If you were to compare games for PS 2 and PS 3 the difference would be more than obvious. It was really a new era for gamers all over the world.

From that perspective, it may appear that the evolution of eGaming is starting to stagnate. However, even if there aren’t massive improvements in graphics, the industry is evolving in different ways. So, let’s see what some of the main indicators that gaming is improving are.

eSports (Online Casino Betting Options) and iGaming

People often believe that the terms eSports and eGaming are the same thing. However, eGaming is a much wider term, and it also encompasses eSports. The growth of the eSports industry is another indicator that eGaming is evolving. Many online games are designed around eSports. In other words, they aim to become the next trending competitive multiplayer title.

Moreover, there are more sportsbook markets that include eSports betting options. Additionally, casino games are developed to resemble popular IPs from gaming. You can find a number of online casino platforms that also offer betting options on eSports and slots that look like old-school video games, like Street Fighters. Lastly, some land-based casinos have arcades that look like popular video games but were modified for gambling.

VR and Metaverse

Virtual reality has been a buzzword in the tech world for a few years now, but Zuckerberg’s announcement of Metaverse revitalised the hype. The idea of having a virtual reality playground where people can socialise sounds very appealing. It’s analogous to the world we have seen in Ready Player One. Unfortunately, the latest news from Meta indicates things aren’t moving according to plan. Still, there are other VR competitors that might turn this concept into reality.

Additionally, VR can create a unique player experience. It’s like a direct upgrade to Xbox’s Kinect and Nintendo Wii that also had players move around while they play. Beat Saber is a perfect example of how VR can be used to create a unique and fun experience. Campcom’s first-person shooter horror adventure, Resident Evil, also got its adaptation for VR. It’s way scarier and more engaging like this.

Art and Culture

Video games used to be a niche hobby but slowly worked their way into everyday culture. There are many movies and TV shows that revolve around popular titles. Netflix’s Arcane, a show based on League of Legends, was a massive hit. We are also waiting on the new Last of Us TV series on HBO, and Amazon has announced they are adapting God of War.

Clearly, the concept of engaging gameplay is not the only goal for the designers. Modern titles also aim to tell a compelling story that is worthy of TV adaptation. It’s like watching a fully interactive movie, and there is no other medium that can do this besides video games. Of course, many of these projects were just quick cash grabs that absolutely failed in their execution. Luckily, the writing is getting better, and there are true fans working on the scripts.

It’s also worth pointing out that Game Awards have become big events. More celebrities are now hosting these shows, and they get amazing media coverage. Clearly, polished mechanics aren’t the only important aspect any longer.

Mobile Gaming

Portable gaming devices always had their limitations, but now our smartphones can run incredible games.

• Call of Duty
• PUBG
• Wild Rift
• Pokemon Go

These are some of the examples of top-performing apps that you run on smartphones that aren’t that expensive. Additionally, Nintendo Switch is capable of running titles like Diablo 3 and The Witcher which is a clear sign that portable gaming devices have made significant leaps.

Blockchain Tech

Finally, some gaming studios are using blockchain to create unique mechanics or interactions. Thanks to this technology we have seen an increase in pay-to-earn games. The idea is that players can purchase or create digital assets that can be items, land lots, skins, or cosmetics and they can then trade those assets.

A lot of them have a low value, but that doesn’t exclude the possibility that their value will increase over time. They might become unobtainable later on, or new features will appear that will make those assets more viable.

Conclusion

These were some of the main indicators that eGaming continues to evolve. Clearly, VR gaming is still in its early stages, but there will be more investments in its development once it becomes more accessible. It would also be interesting to see more AAA studios leveraging blockchain.

Having tradable digital assets can definitely improve the game’s longevity, however, there are legal issues that can prevent them from adopting this model. Having RNG drops that can be sold for real money creates a gambling-like environment. So, it would be difficult to release and license these titles, let alone market them to a younger audience.