In 2024, it’s safe to say that there are few industries that have been faring as well as the video game sector. However, such industries don’t manage to thrive simply thanks to pure chance, instead, a lot of work goes to achieve such levels of success. If you’re curious to learn more, make sure to keep scrolling as we’ll explore below some of the trends and strategies used in this field.
The Use of AI and Its Impact on the Industry
Technology has always gone hand-in-hand with gaming, with the popularity of the latter chiefly attributed to the former. However, in recent years, one advancement has been trending more than the rest. And, of course, we’re talking about artificial intelligence (AI), which has been around since the 60s but has advanced exponentially in the 21st century.
There are now countless of innovative games that use AI to enhance several different aspects and features. One prime example of how AI is utilized is to provide enhanced gameplay for player vs computer games. This is done by providing more complex algorithms to make the games more competitive for players, where AI is meant to mimic human behavior as best as possible.
Another application of this advancement can be seen through enhanced personalized recommendations. Nowadays, there have never been more options available to gamers, making it quite hard to pick the right game for them, potentially leading to decision fatigue. Since AI can process data practically instantaneously, it is now used to enhance personalized recommendations based on past games played and player preferences.
We can also use an example of how it’s used in a specific genre of games, such as action-adventure games like GTA Vand Red Dead Redemption 2. Both games feature an open-world system, meaning there are lots of NPCs that fill the world. And while most of them don’t affect the main plot of the game, this doesn’t make them any less important when it comes to making the world feel more real.
Rather than wasting time coding each NPC to react in specific ways depending on whatever actions you take, AI is able to create more realistic and dynamic characters without requiring as much input from developers. This allows studios to allocate their resources to more important features of the game, such as storytelling, advanced combat systems, and more.
Current Trends in the Industry
Apart from AI, there are some other advancements that also deserve to be mentioned, even if they may not be spoken of quite as much as the aforementioned technology. For starters, mobile gaming has become more of a priority for multiple gaming companies.
After all, practically every person nowadays has a smartphone, making it one of the most accessible gaming devices out there. And this market has proved to be quite fruitful, especially when considering the free-to-play business model paired with the ever-controversial microtransaction system.
This brings us to the next advancement in accessibility, which is cloud gaming. For those who haven’t heard about this before, this advancement allows players to access video games through servers and play them on practically any device, even older ones that typically wouldn’t be able to run them.
This removes the need to purchase additional gadgets, which may make consoles obsolete in the near future. Currently, both Xbox and PS offer their cloud gaming services to players through a subscription plan.
To round this list off we’ll include some honorable mentions, such as the rising popularity of e-sports competitions, which has made people around the globe take gaming more seriously rather than just seeing it as a frivolous hobby. Finally, we have AR and VR technology, both aiming to enhance the immersion levels of any video game by further blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
Leading Strategies for Success
There are currently over a thousand gaming companies in the US alone, so competition is obviously very stiff. This makes thriving in this competitive landscape no easy feat, but not an impossible one, especially when the right strategy is implemented.
Starting with innovation, a key strategy in ensuring a gaming business is not left in the dust and remains ahead of the curve. The main way to achieve this is by embracing technological advancements such as the ones we mentioned above with open arms. It may be hard to stay up-to-date with something that evolves at breakneck speed, however, it is a must in this day and age.
Inclusivity is another important factor. As player demographics become more varied, games are now working on representing their newer client base accordingly. From creating diverse characters to crafting stories that represent different cultures to exploring new concepts, all of this is not only making people feel seen but also making gaming as a whole a more interesting field. But inclusivity shouldn’t stop only at this. It also means ensuring games have added features such as color-blind modes, subtitles for those with impaired hearing, and implementing audio and haptic feedback for the visually impaired. Little details such as these will ensure games are more accessible and thus more prosperous.
