It’s no secret that the video game industry is growing at an incredible pace.
In 2020, the industry was worth an estimated $159 billion dollars and is expected to grow to $200 billion by 2023.
With such rapid growth, it’s no surprise that there are a number of trends emerging in the industry. Here are a few of the most noteworthy trends for 2022 and beyond:
Cloud Gaming Will Continue to Rise in Popularity
One of the biggest trends in gaming right now is cloud gaming. This is where games are streamed directly to your devices from remote servers, rather than being downloaded and installed locally. This has a number of advantages, including reducing file sizes, eliminating the need for powerful hardware, and making it possible to play games on a wider range of devices.
While cloud gaming is still in its early days, it’s expected to go mainstream in the next few years. In fact, major players like Google and Microsoft are already investing heavily in this area. So if you’re not already using a cloud gaming service, it’s definitely worth considering in the future.
Augmented Reality Will Become Even More Popular
Augmented reality (AR) is another gaming trend that’s been around for a while but is only now starting to gain traction. AR allows gamers to interact with their surroundings in a completely new way. For example, Pokémon GO uses AR to let players catch Pokémon in the real world.
As AR technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more amazing applications of it in the gaming world.
Esports Will Go Mainstream
Esports is another trend that’s been on the rise in recent years. Esports is essentially competitive gaming where players compete against each other for prizes. And it’s not just a niche trend anymore. In fact, esports is expected to generate $1.8 billion in revenue by 2022.
This rapid growth is due in part to the increasing popularity of live-streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming. As more people tune in to watch esports, the industry will continue to grow.
Micro Marketplaces Will Take Off
Micro-marketplaces are a new trend that’s starting to gain traction in the gaming industry. These are essentially small, local markets where gamers can buy and sell in-game items.
The reason why micro-marketplaces are becoming so popular is that they offer a more convenient and efficient way for gamers to trade items. For example, let’s say you want to buy a new sword for your favorite game. Instead of having to search through all of the different online marketplaces, you can simply go to your local micro marketplace and find what you’re looking for.
According to igitems.com, not only do micro-marketplaces offer convenience, but they also provide a sense of community that many gamers crave. After all, it’s always more fun to trade with someone who you know and trust.
Mobile Gaming Will Continue to Dominate
Mobile gaming has been on the rise for a while now and it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, mobile gaming is expected to generate $77.2 billion in revenue by 2022. This incredible growth is due to the increasing popularity of smartphones and tablets as well as the ever-improving quality of mobile games.
As the video game industry continues to grow, we can expect to see even more amazing trends emerge. These are just a few of the most exciting ones to watch out for in the years to come.
Streaming Platforms Will Skyrocket in Popularity
As the video game industry continues to grow, we can expect to see more and more people streaming their gameplay online. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming have already taken the world by storm and there’s no sign of them slowing down. In fact, it’s estimated that there are now over 2.2 million Twitch streamers worldwide.
As the popularity of streaming grows, so does the demand for high-quality content. This means that we can expect to see more professional gamers emerge in the years to come. And as they continue to hone their skills, they’ll only get better at entertaining their audiences.
We can also expect to see more non-gaming content on these platforms as well. For example, some of the most popular Twitch streamers also talk about their personal lives, show off their creative hobbies, or even just chat with their viewers.
This trend is only going to continue in the years to come as more and more people turn to streaming platforms for their entertainment needs.
Virtual Reality Will Become More Immersive
Virtual reality (VR) is another trend that’s been on the rise in recent years. VR allows gamers to experience their favorite games in a completely new way. And as VR technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more amazing applications of it in the gaming world.
One of the most exciting things about VR is that it has the potential to make games even more immersive than they already are. For example, imagine being able to step into your favorite game world and explore it like never before. Or what about being able to interact with other players in a completely new way?
The possibilities are endless and we can only imagine what the future of VR holds for the gaming industry.
