The video gaming industry seems to constantly be experiencing rapid evolution and development. It doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, and as a natural consequence of these developing technologies and innovations, new jobs arrive.
As new trends in video gaming content are shaping the industry’s landscape, new experts and visionaries are a necessity for all competitive companies to be able to keep afloat in the red sea of competition.
In this post, we look into the key trends in the gaming industry these days that push the boundaries and create the need for new professions and skills.
Rise of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR):
User engagement and revenue generation in the video gaming industry are now way more complicated, multi-faceted, and at the same time, way more efficient than before, due to the introduction of immersive AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality).
These two technologies are not exactly new but they also evolve and recently, they started to tangibly narrow the gap between the digital and physical environments when playing.
Both VR and AR are 3D technologies that help players see and perceive their in-game environments in more natural and realistic ways, making the users actually believe in what they see and hear. This “believe” component makes any game more engaging and therefore more entertaining.
The captivation of the augmented visual and audio effects elevates the quality of the gaming experience. More players are willing to try a game out, more players are willing to play the game longer and even pay more for it. As a result, the game publishers increase their profits and can make even more high-quality content.
VR and AR technologies allow greater flexibility in control and perception. In contrast to conventional games, VR and AR push the boundaries of where the player can look and how they can move in the game. This increased versatility pushes the limit when the player starts feeling bored, far away, as more and more possibilities are added to the game.
Also, VR and AR boost creativity not only in developer teams but also in players. As publishers come up with extra layers of storylines, levels, quests, and characters, players also exercise their creativity when completing quests or interacting in the game. This massive audience response allows publishers to enhance their products even more.
Obviously, using new technologies and constantly adjusting the existing tools to new market challenges creates a need for experts working with VR and AR.
Expansion of Mobile Gaming
The portability and flexibility of smartphones boosted the gaming industry in a way most people could not foresee. Today, mobile gaming is a thing and it only increases. People can play anywhere, anytime, and they actually do so.
The increased connectivity of smartphones allows people to play virtually any game without lags, enjoy high-quality graphics, and even play and compete with other players online, regardless of where they are located. Real-time interaction is no longer exotic, it happens every day. One doesn’t need any special knowledge or software to enjoy a video game or even a live dealer roulette with other players at the online table at a no wagering casino Canada in real-time.
As almost everyone has a smartphone at hand, even people who have never or rarely considered gaming now see gaming as something far more accessible… and they actually give it a try more willingly than on, say, a PC or a console. This has led to an unimaginable increase in the number of people playing games on a regular basis. Smartphones also made gaming more affordable because many games follow the freemium revenue model.
Moreover, new genres of mobile games and new ways of playing them have given developers absolutely new, innovative ways of making money, and the best part is that they can make money without annoying the players. While most conventional games are hidden behind a paywall, most mobile games are free to install and play because they are either ads-based or microtransactions-based. Never before was gaming so free to use, with no strings attached. These revenue models were also borrowed by bigger video game publishers and have led to the creation of some of the most profitable games out there.
As a result, this whole new segment of mobile gaming became one of those that need new expertise and skills the most. In the video gaming industry, mobile gaming is currently one of the most hiring niches.
Impact of User-Generated Content (UGC) on Gaming Industry
User-generated content is indeed a thing in many industries today, and video gaming is not an exception. Before, studios published content and players consumed it but now, players and communities also have a say in content creation. Groups and communities thrive on UGC and the emergence of the AI platforms also boosted their creativity with images and visuals connected to their favorite gaming universes.
Gaming UGC is a cultural phenomenon by now, and the impact of it on the gaming industry is hard to overestimate. It not only fosters creativity and engagement of individual players but also keeps communities together and extends the games’ lifecycles.
As a result, many publishers and platforms now require experts in community communication, policies, public relations, but on a totally different level. Social media makes poor public relationships instantly visible and no platform can get away with treating its player communities poorly. So the need for experts in this area is real and it will only increase in the next few years.