Mumbai: The gaming industry is catapulting forward at an exciting pace. It has come a long way from its homely beginnings in the seventies with home and arcade gaming. With big tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google now offering gaming products, here are some major trends to expect in 2023:
Cloud gaming services
Cloud computing has had a significant impact on the gaming industry. The gaming industry has dramatically shifted from the days of stand-alone consoles and PC gaming platforms. Gamers can now play games from anywhere and on various devices—mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and even television sets! The cloud gaming market is growing like never before. The easy availability of cheap smartphones and internet connectivity will continue to augment demand. With an estimated CAGR of 26.12 per cent for 2017 to 2023, the cloud gaming market will hit $4.284 billion by 2023! The roll-out of the 5G network in India will also introduce plenty of possibilities giving players a seamless experience.
Creative gaming collaborations
2023 will witness a gamut of creative collaborations, resulting in exciting blockchain-based video game launches. The National Football League (NFL) has partnered with Mythical Games to create NFL Rivals, which will be available on the web, iOS, and Android platforms. Upland and FIFA announced a multi-year Metaverse partnership. With Sandbox having seven strategic alliances, such as with Skybound Entertainment and South China Market Post, expect some new interactive experiences and ground-breaking opportunities to delve into the virtual gaming world. Partnerships between finance-related companies such as CoinMarketCap and DBS with Sandbox aim to enable gaming enthusiasts to understand complex financial and environmental concepts through the learning-by-doing method. An increasing number of coaching centres and educational institutes have seen the potential of enhancing the learning experience through animation and games and will be looking to create relevant educational content.
More women in gaming - the growth of women-centric games
The number of female gamers has been on a steady rise and is estimated to make up 40 to 45 per cent of the gaming population in Asia. However, their representation in the gaming industry could be better. Women hold barely 16 per cent of the executive positions in the gaming industry and 24 per cent of other posts! This will change with women in games launching their Asia Chapter in the coming years. With their commitment to making gender equity and parity a lasting reality, they are calling for a reimagination of the existing structures within the gaming industry. Expect to see more games designed to serve the female segment of gaming enthusiasts.
Expansion of the metaverse and mobile gaming
The metaverse will revolutionise the gaming world beginning in 2023 entirely. By 2029 the industry size is estimated to breach the $1500 billion mark. Metaverse mobile games might focus on allowing users a seamless transition from mixed reality to augmented reality to a complete metaverse Immersive VR ecosystem. New and established players will likely invest heavily in research and development or look out for mergers and acquisitions to bring out innovative games and stay ahead in this competitive space. We can expect the rolling out of more incentives by gaming companies to keep individual players tied to their metaverse. The mobile-first rule in designing the metaverse for gamers will trigger a massive surge in the number of gamers.
Improved experiences in the i-gaming sector
iGaming has been around since the nineties but has evolved significantly, taking aspects of well-known classic video games in recent years. The variety of games offered by online casino platforms is paving the way for rapid growth in the number of users. The growing popularity and acceptance of cryptocurrency as a payment method will continue to attract more gamers to the iGaming platform and its easy availability across any internet-connected device. Online casinos will continue to look for more ways to gain an edge over competitors through exciting bonuses, free-play features, and immersive graphics and animations. iGaming may very well be the future of online gaming.
Virtual reality and augmented reality
The gaming sector's adoption of cutting-edge graphics, high-definition displays, facial and voice recognition, and gesture control has transformed the gaming space from the early days of the PlayStation 1. Though AR and VR in India are still nascent, there is a vast talent pool of technically skilled workers and creative minds. Internationally, the AR and VR industries' revenues are growing by leaps and bounds. The growing popularity of VR and AR and the boom in iGaming will see greater adoption of AR and VR in real-world casinos to supplement the casino environment and experience. This will be necessary to retain patrons and clients and attract new ones.
A space for socialising
Approximately 50 per cent of the Indian population began playing online games during the covid-19 pandemic. Social distancing norms and lockdown restrictions forced people to find new avenues of entertainment and socializing. Currently, India has a growing youth and gaming population with disposable incomes that continue to connect through gaming platforms as more and more games move from the PC and console to online platforms.
International developers will be eyeing this market and are on the lookout for collaborations and tie-ups with Indian developers to enhance the experience of the Indian gamer.
India has always had a unique market when it comes to media and entertainment. Mobile phone penetration in the country, cheap internet user fees, and developers' mobile-first approach have increased exponentially the number of gamers hooked on to the metasphere. While hardcore gamers spend an average of Rs 6,500/- per year to enhance their experience with accessories and peripherals such as headsets, stereo-speakers, and even ergonomic chairs, casual gamers are the most significant user base, with almost 400 million users. Digital media is growing in leaps and bounds, and advertisers will target casual gamers as their audience. Casual gamers can expect an exciting year ahead, with developers vying with each other to capitalise on this growing momentum. The year promises to be adventurous for the serious gamer, with several new launches expected across different gaming consoles.
The author of this article is PlayerzPot co-founder and director Mitesh Gangar.
