The gaming industry keeps evolving and adjusting the latest technology in their play. We can see the metaverse, VR, and blockchain games get even more familiar in society, offering a new taste of the gaming world.
The challenge for game publishers has become steeper over the past few years. Not only do they need to keep upgrading their services, but developers must catch up with the gaming trends every year.
What would be the gaming trends of 2023 that every publisher and game addict should know about? You can sit back because we’ve garnered the seven popular gaming trends this year. Keep scrolling to reveal the list.
#1. Play-to-earn Games
The attitude change in how people perceive “work” is no longer surprising today. More people leave their 9-to-5 jobs to become full-time gamers. Working as a gamer is no longer looked down upon as many generate hefty bucks from it.
The gaming industry makes it possible for people who are tired of corporate jobs to find another way to make money. Most online games include monetization, where gamers can buy, sell, or trade features.
Moreover, gamers can join tournaments and gaming events with intriguing prizes. Tyler “Ninja” Blevins earned $17 million in 2019 and won $100,000 from competitions, making him one of the highest-paid players in the world.
#2. The Metaverse
Thanks to the advent of technology, society has become a combination of the virtual world and real life. Game developers have been adjusting virtual reality and mixed reality, which we refer to as the metaverse.
The metaverse is a 3D virtual environment and browser-based platform. It offers a new experience as people can have real-time interactions across distances through a browser or headset.
Players can get the taste of the decentraland metaverse by creating their own avatar. But first, they need to buy a virtual reality headset like Oculus Quest 2 and utilize a crypto wallet for transacting.
#3. VR Games
Many may find it difficult to draw a clear line between the metaverse and virtual reality (VR). In a nutshell, VR is the technology that makes three-dimensional environments possible in this world.
In the decentraland metaverse, players fully own their assets and experience. They can play today but stop and continue again the next day, week, or even month.
On the other hand, VR brands own all related content and only provide limited virtual experiences invented by them. So, once players switch off their devices, the VR experience will stop.
Arizona Sunshine, Astrobot AI, Batman: Arkham VR, and Beat Saber are some of many examples of VR games. The trend will stay with us as more VR games are coming our way in the future years.
#4. Blockchain Games
Talking about the gaming trends, we have to put blockchain games on the list. Blockchain or crypto games are new inventions that allow players to play and earn digital assets simultaneously.
There are many games available to try. Some of the most popular ones include Axie Infinity, Splinterlands, Alien Worlds, Farmers Worlds, Solitaire Blitz, and Plant vs. Undead.
Blockchain games require players to fund their accounts with specific cryptocurrencies. They can sell, buy, and trade game features or characters with other players. Also, join gaming tournaments and events to win prizes and raise their level.
#5. AAA Mobile Games
Gamers must already be familiar with the term AAA games. They are famous for having superior graphics and gameplay. Thus, only large and well-known publishers are capable of building AAA games as they need big budgets along the process.
Previously, AAA games were only available for PC or consoles. But in 2020, miHoYo released Genshin Impact, making it a spotlight in the gaming community.
Genshin Impacts stands out among mobile games thanks to its top-notch graphics, gacha-style monetization, and open-world gameplay. That’s why gamers can anticipate more AAA mobile games in the future.
#6. Hyper-Casual Games
The popularity of hyper-casual games will keep rising throughout 2023. Many love this type of game due to its simplicity and easy-to-play features. Players basically don’t need any gaming skills to enjoy the game.
Puzzle and dressing-up games are only some of many hyper-casual games that have risen in popularity in recent years, especially during the tough days of the pandemic. They’re mostly free, easy to install, and perfect for killing time.
Other examples of most downloaded hyper-casual games include Bridge Race, Tall Man Run, Fill the Fridge, and Race Master 3D.
#7. Cloud-based Games
Buying a video game online is a dream of every game enthusiast. It somehow makes them feel proud and euphoric. However, purchasing a video game also has its problems.
Sometimes, downloading the game takes you forever to finish. Or, your PC hardware may not be the best fit for the game leading to slow performance or other issues. Most commonly, your PC or console simply runs out of storage.
With those in case, cloud-based games come in handy. You can stream the game of your choice in real-time without buying and downloading it. Cloud-based games allow you to play right away without downloading anything.
Game Over
As more people are addicted to online games, our society will embrace more gaming trends with advanced technology. Most of the popular gaming trends involve virtual reality and monetization that allows players to earn income.
Game publishers have sensed some of the current trends. They’ve been adjusting and upgrading the latest technology to give a whole new experience for players. With all the trends going on, playing games has gone beyond endless counterattacks behind a desk.
Author
Andre Oentoro is the founder of Breadnbeyond, an award-winning explainer video production company. He helps businesses increase conversion rates, close more sales, and get positive ROI from explainer videos (in that order).
Twitter: @breadnbeyond
Email/Gravatar: [email protected] LinkedIn: Andre Oentoro
