Like all tech industries, the gaming industry is one that is subject to multiple trends on a regular basis. While some gaming crazes surge in popularity for one month and fade away into oblivion during the next, we have seen several trends emerge in recent years that have proven they can stay the distance.
With the global gaming industry now valued at an all-time high of over $180 billion, let’s take a look at some of those impactful developments that are both fuelling the growth of gaming today and ensuring its longevity for the years and decades to come.
eSports
In many ways, eSports represents the ultimate evolution of video gaming. Having fully emerged into the mainstream during the 2010s, eSports has since elevated the practice of playing video games to a professional, competitive sport.
In 2022, eSports tournaments are played out in stadiums and arenas in front of thousands of paying audience members. The most exceptional gamers in the world are treated like rock stars with lucrative sponsorship deals. Meanwhile, the organisations behind tournaments and eSports leagues are able to sustain entire business ecosystems.
The discipline is also gaining worldwide recognition from more traditional sporting institutions. This year, eSports debuted at both the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou and the Commonwealth Games in the UK, as a demonstration event alongside the main events.
iGaming
iGaming is a segment of the global gaming industry that encompasses real money digital activities. This includes mind sports like online poker, remote sports betting, and online casino and slots gaming. Given the enduring popularity of these pastimes, the sector has experienced phenomenal growth and is expected to surpass $172.23 billion by the end of the decade.
Much of the success of iGaming as a long-term trend is that it fully embraces innovation. The best US poker sites, for example, pour substantial resources into creating immersive gaming experiences for players, thinking nothing of integrating virtual reality and blockchain tech into their offerings.
Furthermore, online versions of games like roulette and digital betting markets are significantly more accessible than land-based alternatives. This makes iGaming all the more appealing to a broad demographic, including those who would otherwise feel uncomfortable wagering in traditional environments.
Mobile Gaming
It’s no secret that mobile technology has truly taken hold of the world’s attention. Millions of people all over the globe use smartphones and tablets on a daily basis to complete everything from work tasks to gaming. As a result, the mobile gaming sector is currently outperforming both PC and console gaming combined and represents 52% of the total market value.
It’s true that mobile has disrupted the gaming industry like no other sector before it, creating new opportunities for both game developers and individual players.
Developing mobile gaming apps, for instance, requires substantially fewer resources than developing a console game, opening up the playing field for indie developers to launch their bright new ideas. In turn, this provides a diverse range of gaming options to players, ensuring that no gaming demographic feels excluded thanks to the wealth of available games that appeal to everyone.
