Technologies and trends in the gaming industry are constantly evolving. To keep up to date with them, Check out this article on the Future of Gaming 2022!
The future of gaming in 2022 looks promising since Gaming has seen a considerable rise in popularity over the past few years. 2021 was the best year for gaming in a long time since everyone was stuck in their homes during the lockdown, and they didn’t have much to do. This is why many people took this opportunity to explore their options in gaming, and I think it’s safe to say that most of those people enjoyed it.
When unable to meet in the real world, people used to get together in online gaming worlds and virtual communities to spend time together and have fun. This has been highly beneficial for the future of online gaming. That is why we have seen the rise of not one but many new multiplayer games like Valorant, Among Us, Fall guys, etc.
While the lockdown has ended, for the most part, many people still play these games regularly and enjoy their time with them. And this sudden boom in the gaming industry has also given rise to hundreds of streamers and content creators who have found major career opportunities in gaming.
What Are the Trends in Gaming Industry?
Over the past few years, we have seen rapidly changing trends in the gaming industry that have given popularity to new games which may not have been this popular otherwise.
Most AAA titles used to have a hefty price tag, but since the release of Fortnite, games have started to adopt a Free-to-play strategy. Instead of charging money up-front, games now include skins and microtransactions where the players willingly pay the game for virtual items.
Trend changes like this constantly change the way new games feel and give the players an idea of what they can expect from an upcoming game.
Speaking of upcoming games, while many big gaming projects have already been released, more are yet to come out. So let’s look at upcoming games that are yet to be released as of 2022.
Upcoming Games – Release Dates, Trailers, and more
1. Overwatch 2
SOJOURN Alpha Gameplay, Overwatch 2 FULL MATCH | PC Gamer
Release Date: October 4, 2022
Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS4, PS5
Overwatch 2 is a sequel to the original Overwatch game released in 2016. It was announced back in BlizzCon 2019, and after a long period of silence, we have finally gotten some significant details on the game.
The PvE mode is set to come out in 2023, while the PvP mode will be released in October this year. The mode will be released as early access and will be free-to-play. Each season of Overwatch PvP will last nine weeks and will include free seasonal updates, with a new hero being introduced to the game every other week.
Moreover, Overwatch 2 will no longer have loot boxes. Instead, each season will have its own battle pass with seasonal items. The game will also introduce new maps, heroes, modes, and cosmetic items. All this content and changes make this game feel like an actual sequel instead of a DLC.
Some players have already looked at the PvP content, heroes, and new map through the Overwatch beta. But this is no longer possible since the beta has now been closed.
2. God of War Ragnarök
God of War Ragnarök – “Father and Son” Cinematic Trailer | PS5 & PS4 Games
Release Date: November 9, 2022
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Any list of the top games is incomplete without mentioning God of War Ragnarök. It is the sequel to the God of War game that came out in 2018 for the Playstation 4. God of War Ragnarök will be the last God of War to take place in Norse mythology. Sony has also given its fans the first full-length plot synopsis for God of War Ragnarok.
The synopsis confirms that the game will take place during the time of Ragnarök. This grand final battle sees Odin, Loki, and other gods die, and immediately after it, the Norse Saga known as Fimbulwinter.
“From Santa Monica Studio comes the sequel to the critically acclaimed God of War (2018), the synopsis begins. “Fimbulwinter is well underway. Kratos and Atreus must journey to each of the Nine Realms in search of answers as Asgardian forces prepare for a prophesied battle that will end the world.”
“Along the way they will explore stunning, mythical landscapes, and face fearsome enemies in the form of Norse gods and monsters. The threat of Ragnarök grows ever closer. Kratos and Atreus must choose between their own safety and the safety of the realms.”
3. Saints Row
SAINTS ROW – Game Awards Gameplay Trailer
Release Date: August 23, 2022
Platforms: PC, PS5
Saints Row is expected to come out this year with a complete reboot of the series. Your role will be to play the boss of a small group of friends and build the Sims from the ground up. The decisions you make will impact the future of your newly formed gang. You will be able to influence the fictional city of Santo Ileso by deciding what kind of goods you want to deal with, Drugs, Arms, etc.
This game will be the origin story of the Saints, and it is up to you to decide how you want to tell it!
4. The Last of Us Part 1
The Last of Us Part I Rebuilt for PS5 – Features and Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games
Release Date: September 2, 2022
Platforms: PC, PS5
The Last of Us Part 1 is the remake of the original game and is set to be the “definitive version” of the first game. The developer, Naughty Dog, says that it is a complete overhaul of the game with better visuals, animations, and improved controls.
You can see the difference between the original game and the remake in the trailer mentioned above. The Last of Us Part 1 is set to be released for PC and PS5 on September 2, 2022.
Future Gaming Technologies
With the changing trends in gaming history, some gaming technologies are also expected to become popular in the future. Let’s discuss some we can expect to see!
1. Virtual Reality (VR)
VR has a lot of potential to be big, but the technology has proven somewhat disappointing. The promise of fully immersive Virtual Reality technology has been anticipated by gamers for years. Still, the technology is yet to deliver on its potential.
Right now, if we compare Virtual Reality to the rest of the gaming industry, we can see its impact is minor. VR accounted for less than half percent of all gaming sales in 2022
“VR has been five minutes away from some kind of breakthrough for about eight years.” -Ben Kuchera (from Polygon)
Although VR is yet to show its full potential, companies like Facebook, Valve, and Sony are busy trying to find new breakthroughs in the technology.
2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence has been widely used in gaming for decades, primarily for NPCs (Non-Player Characters) in games like Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, etc. In recent times, however, AI has seen a significant improvement and has become capable of performing more complex decision-making.
For example, in Halo 2, the enemies have the ability to work together and coordinate their attacks thanks to AI. There was even a movie made on the concept of a game character coming to life because of a breakthrough in AI called “Free Guy.”
The concept of AI is essential. Maybe someday, we could expect AI to have a more significant influence in commercial games. Still, experts are convinced that won’t be happening anytime soon.
“You can try and build a really cool, comprehensive AI system which is about letting a character behave in all kinds of ways the designer hasn’t anticipated, but if there’s too much of that, there’s no guarantee about which way the story will go and whether it’s going to be any fun.” -Khandaker.
3. Cloud Gaming
In the future, more games may become cloud-based. This means that a game will be installed and running on a computer or server far from you, and you’ll be able to play it using the internet. This is called Cloud Gaming.
Cloud Gaming allows the users to play games on company-owned servers without downloading the games themselves. Much like Netflix enables you to stream movies without having to purchase an actual copy of the film.
This should remove the requirements of owning an expensive pc or console to be able to play a game. In theory, gamers can buy a subscription to a Cloud Gaming service and play heavy games without investing in expensive hardware components. This saves players a lot of money and is more sustainable.
In the past few years, gaming companies like Sony, Microsoft, Nvidia, and even Google have rolled out their cloud gaming services. And while these services may not be perfect, it is a start that shows high potential to grow big.
