The gaming industry has been and continues to be one of the greatest innovators in the world economy. A cornerstone of computing R&D, one of the greatest motivators in industries like robotics, and, above all, responsible for the audacious technologies that occasionally seem to have been lifted from a fantastical utopia and make their way into storefronts, e-stores, and our homes.
Early innovations have changed traditional industries
We’ve witnessed how digital applications have turned a traditionally “offline” industry like casino gaming into a giant in the online gaming sector by focusing on delivering online versions of games like poker, blackjack, roulette, or slots.
Technological developments have made it possible for game developers to offer real money casinos on online platforms that allow users to benefit from betting from the comfort of their homes for instance. Online casinos have even taken a step further and platforms such as VegasOnlineSlots have guides to help players find the games that will suit them best and offer reviews on many online casinos. These are important improvements over the services of physical casinos.
Other improvements have made it such that millions of players around the world are now drawn to games with increasingly realistic and sophisticated visuals, textures, and colors, which have been supported by the development of graphics cards to satisfy gamers’ demand for high definition.
Improvements in the accessibility of videogames
Video game players with any impairment can now enjoy of improved settings that can be adapted to their needs thanks to advancements made in 2021. New options have been added to the usual settings, such as colors for color-blind people, and changing the font size, or sound.
With their added options, video games like Forza Horizon 5, Ratchet and Clank, or Psychonauts 2 have made strides in the accessibility field.
In terms of hardware, the main development has been recorded by the Xbox Adaptive Controler which allows changing buttons and joysticks according to the needs of every player.
Virtual reality will play a major role in the industry
Virtual reality glasses such as the Meta Quest have demonstrated the viability of classic games like Resident Evil 4 in virtual reality mode. One of the main lessons is that VR has a big potential for making those games feel even more dramatic. Now VR developers are also investigating augmented reality’s potential for other applications, such as virtual piano lessons example.
The growing interest in metaverse applications by big companies and brands such as Facebook (or shall we say Meta instead?) can be a decisive factor into the acceleration of VR hardware.
Nintendo has changed the landscape of portable consoles
Nintendo was having a difficult time catching up with Microsoft and Sony in the console landscape. The Nintendo Wii caused a big uproar when it was released, but the graphics weren’t even close to what the Xbox and PlayStation offered.
But the release of the Nintendo Switch meant a turning point for Nintendo and the portable consoles industry. Not only they presented a traditional gaming console, but they managed to deliver a hybrid model which can be at the same time a portable piece of hardware.
The latter introduction of the Nintendo Switch OLED improved the size of the portable screen, the brightness, and the quality of dark colors and made it such that by playing on this portable hardware, you feel as if you can have a top-notch console in the palm of your hands.
Conclusion
The gaming audience is becoming each time more demanding and aware of what they really want. They know that they can ask for more as the gaming industry always presents new innovations that rapidly improve prior releases.
Because of this, R&D departments are a vital and active component of every company that creates, manufactures, and sells gaming hardware and accessories.
We can clearly recognize that the video game and iGaming industry is constantly evolving due to technological advances, so it is expected that the application of the best technologies targeted for this industry will continue to be promoted. This will undoubtedly benefit many people who regularly enjoy this world.
Gaming has stopped being just a hobby and has become an actual culture and way of living. It wouldn’t have been the same without all the technological developments put in place.