The online gaming business is unarguably one of the most important and fastest-growing entertainment sectors today, having infiltrated the mainstream since its inception in the mid-2000s and setting new expectations for the gaming industry as a whole.
As technology evolves at an incredible rate, market leaders have been pushing the boundaries for new gaming experiences, resulting in a major shift in the way we play online.
With the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, gaming became an attractive alternative for those staying inside to comply with lockdowns and social distancing, as the online gaming sector had some of the most significant growth rates in history. This peculiar period witnessed the growth of iGaming platforms, the advancement of gamified learning, and the debut of a new generation of gaming platforms, providing gamers from all over the world with a multitude of new options.
Despite the fact that the pandemic seems to be finally coming to an end, with the number of cases reducing throughout the world, interest in gaming remains strong, with various studies showing that innovative services such as cloud-based gaming will have a substantial influence on industry sales in the next few years. As a result, it’s reasonable to anticipate even more as online gaming matures into a powerhouse in the entertainment business.
With the advent of new technologies and gaming platforms, as well as the emergence of unique online trends, developers, publishers, and software providers are constantly trying to revolutionize the industry by developing new gaming experiences and allowing gamers to enjoy different aspects of online entertainment.
As we advance through 2022, the following gaming experiences have been attracting millions of players around the world, making them great choices if you want to explore new gaming trends this year, whether it’s for leisure and entertainment, or even for learning.
A new educational tool
Gamified learning is an educational method that engages and encourages students by incorporating video game design and gameplay elements into learning environments. The ultimate goal is to improve interest and engagement among learners by captivating their attention and inspiring them to study more.
With social distancing, quarantines, and lockdowns keeping students away from schools and colleges over the last two years, gamified learning has played a critical part in learning processes throughout the pandemic.
This theory of educational gamification implies that “students learn best when they’re having fun”. Furthermore, it suggests that teaching is much more effective when students have clear objectives, milestones, goals, and achievements to strive for, all while remaining interesting to the learner.
As technology improves and pervades many aspects of our daily lives, altering how we work, buy, socialize, and play, educators and pedagogy researchers are finally beginning to investigate the possible benefits of integrating technology in classrooms.
Some online action
Whether it’s typical casino games like roulette and blackjack, lotteries, or sports betting, gambling has long been one of the world’s most popular hobbies. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global social distancing measures imposed in the last two years, the iGaming industry, also known as online gambling, has grown in popularity as land-based gambling facilities and venues have been forced to close their doors and cease physical operations.
The selection of iGaming platforms available today is huge, and it’s possible to play classics like roulette, blackjack, and poker – and even enjoy live offerings of these games by playing with professional dealers in real-time – or place bets on major sporting events such as the NFL, MLB, collegiate leagues, motorsports, and much more.
Players have a wide number of licensed and regulated operators to pick from, all of which provide a wide range of betting options, a variety of payment options and banking methods, as well as special bonuses, promotions, and loyalty programs.
Playing on the clouds
Cloud gaming has finally become a reality and is gradually being launched across the world. Eliminating the need for lengthy downloads and installations, cloud gaming allows gamers to play video games through remote servers via streaming.
The notion of cloud gaming has been around for about two decades, and in the early 2000s, companies like G-Cluster and Crytek attempted but failed to develop viable cloud gaming systems. Development of this technology was suspended due to limited infrastructure and bandwidth, and we didn’t observe any breakthroughs until lately.
As internet connectivity and streaming technology have advanced dramatically in recent years, this remarkable new trend has now become possible. The recent debut of cloud-based gaming services such as PlayStation Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, and Stadia sparked interest, and the extension of these services in 2022 made it a reality.
However, gamers aren’t the only ones who are pleased about the introduction of this new technology trend, because it allows publishers and developers to monetize older games and titles years after they were launched.