The Future of Gaming
Where will gaming be in the next decade?
To figure out what the future holds, let’s take a look at the past:
1970s: The Birth of Video Games and simple objectives
This was the time for games like Pong and Space Invaders.
1980s: Story Heavier Games
Games like the Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. and Pac Man were the most famous games.
1990s: The Era of 3D Gaming and Console Wars
Story-heavy games in the last yielded better gaming consoles and 3D gaming in the 1990’s. Street Fighter, Doom, Pokémon, and Final Fantasy made their mark with their 3D experience.
2000s: Online Multiplayer and Open-World Games
The 1990s 3D games led to the Open world games of the 2000s—The Sims, World of Warcraft, Grand Theft Auto, and Call of Duty made their mark in the emerging genre.
2010s: Taking Open-World Games to new Heights
Companies decided to follow the trends by moving Open-world games up a notch. also worth noting, because games started to get more immersive, companies had to start making games more accessible, creating mobile gaming. Games like Breath of the Wild, Fortnite, Minecraft, and Elder Scrolls.
good ol mario!
External Factors
Gaming trends are usually the trends of the last decade, expanded on further. What began as simple, quick games evolved into expansive adventures (1970-1880). This adventure progressed into 3D experiences, enhancing immersion and depth (1980-1990). As the genre matured, players began to gather in open-world environments (1990-2000). Companies then decided to take open-world gaming to new heights (2000-2010).
What do we, as a society, gravitate towards? One thing stands out: social media. It thrives on spreading trends that are quick, engaging, and visually appealing. With this shift towards faster-paced, bite-sized content, it's clear that the demand for more rapid, visually stunning, and immersive games is only growing. The future of gaming has to reflect these desires, offering experiences that keep up with our need for speed and impact.
Another crucial factor that we must consider is the growth of technology through the decades. Rapid technological advancements have to be accounted for.
In the future, I believe games will be played primarily on headsets, which will have become much cheaper and more accessible over time. As for the games themselves, technology will play a huge role in shaping their evolution. I see them becoming more multiplayer-focused and increasingly graphics-intensive.
Although we'll always revisit the classics from time to time, it's essential to make space for faster-paced, more technologically advanced games with intense storylines and multiplayer experiences.
