Video games have steadily grown in popularity, from the SEGA consoles of the 90s to the open-world online games of today. The global industry reported a revenue of $455 billion in 2024, thanks to the 3.32 billion gamers around the world. But, what does the future of gaming look like, and what can we expect from the industry over the next decade?
Virtual And Augmented Reality
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are no longer a futuristic feature in Hollywood films. Games like Pokemon GO and Jurassic World Alive popularized AR gaming, allowing digital games to blend into reality. And VR headsets, like Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro are becoming increasingly affordable.
It is expected that within the next 10 years, AR and VR will become common features of digital games. Although games will be played without VR too, most games will have the option to be played using VR technology. These headsets will be streamlined, becoming less bulky and more affordable, appealing to a wider gaming community.
Augmented reality games are mostly limited to mobile phones, however the future promises AR glasses. These wearable headsets will allow gamers to enter their neighbourhoods to play games in a blended reality, without having to carry their devices with them.
VR and AR will spread across different gaming niches. Although it will be the most popular in open-world RPGs, the iGaming industry will not be left behind. Online casinos are likely to adopt this tech to curate realistic casino experiences from home. The best paying casinos, that offer high payouts, will likely pave the way for other platforms to follow suit, as they are incredibly popular with gamblers and see thousands of users every day.
Virtual reality is currently a solitary experience, with gamers wearing headsets while alone at home. The future of VR will shift to a social experience, allowing users to interact with each other.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a new notion in gaming, it has been around for decades already, most commonly found in non-playable characters (NPCs). AI is used in these bystanders to allow them to make decisions and react to the player in real-time. The next decade will see NPCs become more sophisticated, for example, enemies will launch coordinated attacks, with AI enabling them to work as a team.
Generative AI has also been around for a few years, generating game assets automatically without game developers having to get involved. No Man’s Sky is currently making use of generative AI to create an open-world environment as the player moves around, without the developers having had to sketch out the entire world ahead of time.
This technique will become more common, with more developers taking this approach.
The Metaverse
The metaverse is an online space that works in parallel to our real lives. Everyone can log into the metaverse, living a second, virtual life. The metaverse is already gaining popularity today, and the next 10 years will see a lot of refinement, combining VR and AR, and generating its own economy.
It’s evident in games like Roblox and Fortnite, where brands host events or players dress up like Star Wars characters. More companies are working together to build the metaverse, and soon it will expand beyond gaming to include office work and modern entertainment choices too.
Cloud Gaming
Cloud gaming, also called game streaming, is a type of online gaming where players can stream games on their devices by accessing games on distant servers. It is similar to how we stream Netflix or Disney+ today.
Cloud gaming is on the increase and will become more prevalent over the next few years. The biggest draw of this type of game is that the user’s hardware is not the all-important factor that determines where specific games can be played. Since the game is streamed online, only a stable and fast internet connection is required.
Global cloud gaming is expected to be valued at over $143 billion by 2032, which means the next few years will see significant developments in this sector.
