Video games have been popular since forever really, but over the last two years or so, online gaming has become more popular than ever before and the growth of the online gaming sector has been nothing short of astounding. In fact, single-player games have now taken a backseat due to the ever-increasing demand from both casual and serious gamers, but is there a definite reason why this is happening or is it just a passing trend? Well, it’s definitely a trend, but when we discuss the reasons next, it should become evident that this trend is not just going to pass!
Smartphones have Made Online Games More Accessible
If you have ever tried to play an online game on your smartphone, then you probably already know that they are a lot easier than dedicated PC/console games. There are multiple reasons why games on smartphones are easier and they can be summed up as follows.
Touch Controls – Touch-based controls limit the potential for complex and precise control mechanics to be incorporated in the game. Some mobile games do support controllers, but that is not a feasible option for most users who play online games from their smartphones.
Appealing to the Target Audience – People playing on smartphones do not want their games to be too complex or hard and, therefore, developers make mobile games that are accessible to almost anybody. As a result of this easier accessibility, millions of people are now able to enjoy online games from their mobile phones.
It Fits in with the Freemium Model – Games that are free to download and easy to pick up, fit in perfectly with the freemium model that some developers use quite shamelessly in mobile games nowadays. The game just keeps getting harder to a point where the player can only progress by buying something in-game with real money, and that is a huge source of income for developers. Not that pay-once premium mobile games of good quality are not there, but more and more developers are shifting to the freemium model, unfortunately.
There was an enormous outrage recently regarding Blizzard’s highly controversial announcement at the last BlizzCon. The announcement stated that their upcoming Diablo Immortal RPG is going to be a freemium mobile game, not Diablo 4 for PC like everybody had hoped. While fans didn’t like it for obvious reasons, it is quite apparent that Blizzard has recognized how profitable the online gaming business is on mobile and has, therefore, decided to steer their efforts towards getting a piece of the huge smartphone gaming industry, which is now the most profitable gaming sector by far.
Online Casinos have Become a Lot More Accessible
Internet casinos are a huge part of the multi-billion-pound online gaming industry and in the recent years, it has seen massive growth, which is mainly because of how easy it has now become to play slot games and other casino games online. For example, the popular Stakers Casino can be accessed from Android phones and tablets, iPhones, iPads, laptops and desktops for playing casino games without sacrificing anything in regard to the experience, which has opened the casino up to millions of new players around the world. The popularity of online casino games isn’t just about the accessibility though, but it is certainly the main reason behind the industry’s growth in recent years. The other reasons can be summed up as follows.
- Better bonus offers, RTP rates, and quality of games
- Legitimate casinos are more strictly regulated now, making them a fair place to bet
- More offline establishments joining in on the online gambling scene
- Availability of a wide range of payment options
Faster and More Stable Internet Connections
If you are going to game online, you need a fast and stable internet connection, or the ping will make competitive online gaming impossible. In the last two years, not only has the technology behind the internet connections improved, but it has also become more affordable. As this holds particularly true for the lesser developed regions around the globe, faster internet speeds have now made it possible for gamers from across the world to enter the online gaming scene, thus expanding the industry. Since the improving internet connection quality and availability is enabling players from more nations to get involved with online, multiplayer gaming every day, the rising player count will boost the online gaming industry even further up in 2019.
Multiplayer Games are a Social and Competitive Experience
Whether you are shooting other players in CS:GO with friends or trying to score a highlight-worthy goal in Rocket League, it is a form of socialisation. Online multiplayer games provide an opportunity for gamers to not only enjoy gaming but also to socialise with other gamers who enjoy the activity as much as they do. It brings people with similar interests together, irrespective of their geographic boundaries and gives them a common platform to communicate and compete on. Great as single-player games are, they cannot quite replicate the thrill of playing and competing with another human player who can actually think.
The Growing Popularity of eSports
The 2018 DOTA 2 International tournament had a cash prize pool of $25.5 million; in the world of competitive sports, that amount is behind only the Wimbledon 2018’s pool of $43.8 million. This is just an example to demonstrate the kind of money that is at stake if one has what it takes to enter the world of competitive eSports. There are hundreds of online gaming tournaments held around the world every year and some of them award big cash prizes to winners and top players. The money and popularity have provided the incentive and platform necessary for people to take online gaming more seriously which, in turn, has further boosted the overall popularity of online gaming. Every year, the genre of competitive online gaming is increasing in popularity and size significantly, as both gamers and developers try to become a part of the competitive eSports world.
The reasons we just discussed are strong enough to sustain the current growth of online gaming for a long time to come and we will likely see an even bigger boom in the next few years, but that doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the single-player community though. There have been some fantastic releases such as Spider-Man, God of War, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance, among others, in 2018 alone.
