The world of online games has changed quite a bit. Today’s gaming landscape is quite intriguing. Gone are conventional gaming models, where you would have to pay to purchase the game to play it. Free games are the norm. Freemium models are still around, but they are slowly giving way to more ambitious projects. Websites such as Roulette 77 AUS, for example, collect tons of information about online roulette, making for rewarding experiences across the board. Let’s dive into the latest trend from the world of online gaming and what it brings.
Mobile Is King
The first thing that is important about today’s online gaming landscape is that mobile is the norm. Although there is a huge industry that focuses on PC gaming, you will be perhaps surprised to find out that the majority of players today play on mobile.
Mobile gaming is outpacing console and PC gaming, and the industry is actually worth more than these two segments. Just consider how popular some of the biggest mobile games are, based on Supercell data:
| Game | Total Revenue Since Launch |
| Clash of Clans | $10 billion + |
| Clash Royale | $4.3 billion + |
| Brawl Stars | $1 billion + |
| Hay Day | $1 billion + |
| Boom Beach | $1 billion + |
Console gaming is also overtaking PC gaming, and PC gaming, which has once been considered the staple of all gaming, is now trailing the other two segments, surprising as this may seem. The data is born out by Statista, a data collection and visualization website.
AI and ML Have Arrived
The industry is undergoing a huge cataclysm with the power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning now showing in full. These technologies are immensely powerful, and they have the opportunity to streamline, optimize, and push the boundaries of the industry as we know it. However, AI and ML are already taking away jobs from the work force, as some algorithms are eliminating entry-level jobs that are actually very important to keep the long-term sustainability of the industry and its creative vibes.
Regardless, the industry is making do with what it has on its hands. Although it is shedding workers, game development has been picking up pace quite quickly as well.
Personalized Games Are Possible
One major aspect of the advancement of AI and ML is the arrival of personalized games. These games are still few and in between, and they are mostly developed as sublets of other, existing games. Bonus levels, special items and so on, but there is an interesting trend that is shaping up in online gaming. To sum up, you can expect to find:
- Bonus levels just for yourself
- Special items or side-quests
- Access to exclusive parts of the game
This is not to say that full-scale personalized games aren’t coming with the help of AI and ML technology, but they are still
AG and VR Are Still on the Fringes
Although technology has been developing in leaps and bounds, it’s still not mass available is AG and VR. Platforms such as Steam have been building rapidly into this sector, but even then, the range of games that you can pick from has remained somewhat limited.
This is not least to the entry price into VR, the fact that it can take a toll on your eyes quickly, and the rather clunky gameplay of many of the titles available right now.
Regardless, with the advancement of AI and ML, AG and VR are naturally getting a serious boost, with both technologies now more readily adopted in things like smartphones, which could lead to the revival of projects such as Apple and Google Glasses, or even car front windows that feature AG to help you drive more safely.
Subscription Models Lead the Way
Another big trend in the world of online gaming is that you no longer are obligated to buy hard copies of the game you want to play. You can purchase them straight out of platforms such as GOG or Steam, or even the Epic Store, all of which offer excellent ways to buy games fairly cheap and store them all in one place over the years. However, there are other ways to experience brand new games online and this is precisely what appeals to players as well.
We are talking, of course, about the opportunity to subscribe yourself for Xbox or PlayStation’s digital services, which will allow you to access many online games without the need to physically own them. This way you can test the games before you commit to buying them outright.
For many players, though, the ability to game online on a subscription service and not owe physical copies is the way to go, which is why you may find this model enjoyable and preferrable as it’s overall cheaper than buying all the games you want to try instead.