The future of gaming: from AR to VR and everything in between

Along with other forms of entertainment, the origins of gaming stretch back throughout history. Beginning with basic board and card games, gaming has developed so far that we are at the point of utilizing ultra-sophisticated consoles to deliver high-end visuals and environmental audio. The future of gaming seems limitless, with technology advancing so rapidly, the likes of virtual reality games will easily play a part in years to come.

One of the biggest arguments currently taking place amongst observers of gaming developments is over whether it will be virtual or augmented reality gaming that becomes the big draw of the future. The simplest way of explaining the difference between these two technologies is that augmented reality uses real-world places and objects in its games, while virtual reality provides an environment that is completely artificial. Given how radical they have the potential to be, both of these – platforms like Magic Leap and HoloLens (for augmented reality), and GearVR and Valve Vive (for virtual reality) – are being targeted at young people regardless of gender. It is hard to say which of these will become the dominant force in gaming, with the possibility being that augmented reality will be utilised by those who view gaming as an outdoor, social activity, while virtual reality will appeal to those who prefer to journey into a fictional world.

Of course, it is not just these technological advancements that represent the future of gaming, as the rise of mobile gaming is likely to continue. What many argue is that, instead of mobile gaming supplanting console gaming – or vice versa – what we likely see is a growth in multi-platform titles that can be played on numerous different devices. Mobile games from Angry Birds to Candy Crush have had the effect of making gaming more female-friendly, where it was once viewed as a male activity, while social media gaming has brought in an older generation. A wider demographic – speaking about both age and gender – seems to be an obvious part of gaming’s future.

The development of online casino gaming has also brought in people who would not previously have been particularly obvious gaming fans. Many people are choosing to play classic casino games like poker and slot machines online or within mobile apps rather than visiting a traditional brick-and-mortar establishment. These online casinos have proven adept at keeping ahead of the latest trends in gaming and could well be a part of a virtual reality in the future as predicted by Ladbrokes. They are attracting both traditional casino goers – who might not have considered the online realm of gaming before – as well as a wider female demographic.

Another exciting development that we are seeing is the blurring of lines between creator and gamer, with game developers on Kickstarter and similar sites now frequently offering gamers roles in up-coming releases – from supplying music to voice acting. From online casinos to role-playing games, gaming has always been interactive, but this takes the industry to a new level.

Overall, gaming is certainly set to enjoy a healthy future, leaving us to wait and see which technological advances succeed in grabbing the attentions of gaming enthusiasts.

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