The entertainment industry is simply massive and the video game segment is an integral part of it. In fact, the video game industry is booming with continued revenue and was estimated to be worth $130 billion by the end of 2018.
Not only is the gaming industry highly profitable, but it’s also one of the most innovative and creative industries that we have today. After all, some of the biggest achievements in modern technology like virtual reality and augmented reality have been successfully implemented in new-age video games. Mobile game Pokémon Go that took the entire world by the storm is the perfect example of this.
The gaming industry has evolved on many levels in the past few years. However, in 2019, we can see the following trends:
More Battle Royale
Industry experts have given many reasons why Fortnite Battle Royale is so popular which include simple game mechanics, free-to-play nature, and shareable moments. The same reasons apply to all the other Battle Royale games like PUBG and the newly launched Apex. And while there are many gamers that feel that the Battle Royal trend has run its course and now it needs to end, there are still millions of other players out there who can’t get enough of it. Thus, it’s only natural to expect more games in this genre this year and maybe a few more.
Online Casinos
Casinos are popular all across the globe. Even if you haven’t gambled ever in your life, it’s likely that you feel a thrill or excitement when you watch a movie or TV series that’s based in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo which are two of the biggest Casino Meccas in the world.
There are fans of games like Poker and Blackjack everywhere. However, not everyone has a casino in their city. This need is now being fulfilled by online casinos and apps. For instance, you can visit sevenjackpots.com to learn about some of the best online casinos in India and their best features i.e. payout rates, welcome bonuses, selection of games, etc.
The online gambling industry was a little over 50 billion USD at the end of 2017 and is projected to cross the 73 billion USD mark by 2024. Naturally, 2019 will be a big year for the industry and we will see many new platforms and games emerging on the surface in the time to come.
Retro Games
There is no denying that the millennials have a special place for videos games in their hearts. This is because we all grew up along with the fast gaming computers. We started with the Nintendo Entertainment Systems, simply blown away by classics like Super Mario Bros. and Contra, and gradually made our way to the computer games, and then to the modern consoles in the PlayStation and Xbox families.
Call it using the power of nostalgia or plain milking the old content, but after so many decades, the retro games are making a comeback. The console giants and game publishers have realized the value in classic games that we all have many fond memories of, and they want to capitalize on the same.
Take Sony, for instance. It recently re-released the classic PlayStation console with 20 preloaded retro games and features like HDMI support. Similarly, top game developer and publisher Capcom had a huge success with the Resident Evil 2 remake that was originally launched in 1998 i.e. over 2 decades ago.
There are many websites that are also allowing the people to play their favorite classic games online or on their smartphones with emulators. For instance, if you want, you can play Gameboy Color games or the NES and SNES games by downloading their roms online. There are all kinds of mobile apps and PC software that can help you get started easily.
Microtransactions
Most gamers just hate microtransactions, and there are many governments across the globe that have barred the video game publishers from using loot boxes altogether. However, gaming companies know that they can make a huge profit from this trend which is evident from games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, GTA V, and Pub G. In fact, many new games that are launched in the industry are purely “free to play” and rely on microtransactions for revenue. In 2019, whether for the better or worse, we will see more such games.
All in all, it’s safe to say that the gaming industry is headed in the right direction in some areas, and in some ways, it’s really hurting itself and the players in process. Either way, only time will show how it actually pans out, but one thing’s for sure- we can all expect many new trends, sequels of popular franchises, and some new IPs too!
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