The gaming industry has undergone some significant changes in its relatively short history. Many of these changes have been driven by advancements in technology and processing power. For example, the 1990s saw the first signs of mass market adoption of online gaming titles. For the first time, average consumers could play other gamers from all over the world in an online environment, thanks to the rollout of home internet connections and the increasing power of PCs and consoles. Today, gaming has become a popular part of modern culture with over 40% of the world’s population enjoying games of some form. For some, it is more than an enjoyable pastime; it is a way of life. In this article, there is a focus on online gaming and the key trends that have developed in this area of entertainment in the last decade.
The explosive growth in online casinos
Few areas of online gaming have experienced the growth that has been enjoyed by online casinos. Today, there are estimated to be over 3,000 dedicated online sites around the world where adults can play casino games online. The range of games available at such sites is staggering and includes an enticing mix of games that rely purely on luck (such as roulette and baccarat) and those that require a degree of knowledge and skill (such as poker and blackjack). One of the main reasons for the rise in popularity of this form of gaming is the sheer convenience and accessibility it offers adult gamers. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar venues, there is no need to travel to a casino or dress smartly. Most online casinos are open 24/7 and can be accessed in a matter of seconds with little more than a computer, tablet, or smartphone and a reliable internet connection. This on-demand excitement is key to the success of the industry, which is predicted to continue growing for the foreseeable future.
The rise of eSports
In the last decade, the rise of eSports has been simply phenomenal. Since billions of people enjoy video games, there is a growing market for watching pro players compete at games that casual gamers enjoy. Top games for eSports competition include shooters such as Counterstrike and Overwatch; however, there are multiple leagues for other genres such as real-time strategy (RTS) games and sports titles such as the EA FC franchise. The prize pools for some of the most popular eSports games can be incredible. For example, in 2021, the RTS game Dota 2 had a prize pool of over $40 million during the International tournament, which is currently the largest prize pool in eSports history. These spectacular amounts of money help to grow the eSports industry and have allowed the sector to gain global coverage at big events.
Casual mobile gaming
Finally, the rise of smartphone ownership and the advances in the processing power of this tech have helped to create a new form of gaming. Casual mobile gaming is a subgenre of the wider gaming industry that is growing in prominence. Part of the appeal lies in the fact that casual mobile games can be enjoyed in short bursts, typically for a few minutes at a time between other activities. Millions of workers can log onto their favorite mobile games during a lunch break or while waiting for a bus and enjoy a brief spell of gaming action before resuming their daily activities. The pick-up-and-play nature of this format is a key reason for its success, and it is expected that the casual mobile gaming market will continue to grow into the next decade.
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