The Future of Online Games: 3 Online Gaming Trends for 2016
The online games industry is a niche that continues to grow exponentially, fuelled by strong PC usage, the rise in smartphone use and other portable devices such as tablets and laptop computers. In addition to the rise in the number of mobile gamers, developers have also seen an increase in revenues as more and more casual gamers spend time on their PC’s playing their favoured titles.
Despite the popularity of gaming apps for smartphones and tablets, the future of online games look bright; the genre has transformed the gaming industry from a console-based pastime targeted at the younger generation into a multi-billion dollar sector through adoption by users across all ages and interests.
In that respect, this post will take a closer look at 3 online gaming trends for 2016 that represent the future of internet-based games. See below for the trends that will shape the online gaming industry in 2016 and beyond:
- Free-to-Play Games
Free to play games have been a part of online culture since the advent of the internet and now many years later in 2016, and in the face of a mobile onslaught, they show no signs of slowing down. The genre has been defined by titles such as Age of Empires, part of the genre commonly called MOBA’s (Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas).
Although Age of Empires was eventually shut down, other titles such as League of Legends continue to go strong thanks in large part to being able to play for free significantly lowing barriers to entry.
With console games costing quite a lot of money for AAA titles, it is refreshing to find that anyone can still play RockYou’s popular cooking game Kitchen Scramble online free of charge, among others.
The most popular free-to-play games remain the crowd favorites such as puzzle-based games, trivia, driving/racing, and cooking or dressing-up games. While the biggest demographic consists of younger players, older user numbers are steadily rising too, according to experts in the industry.
- Casino Games
Casino games are another genre of online games that has gained more popularity in recent times and 2016 will see this part of the market grow even further.
A simple explanation of online casino games would be to describe them as the internet version of the traditional brick and mortar casinos that we all know. These sites allow users to play online versions of games such as online Roulette, Live Poker, Blackjack, or Slots, just to name a few.
Casino games range from casual games in which you play for fun or earn in-game credits, to the virtual casino games where players place real wagers and win real cash prizes. These games are offered by online platforms such as Casino.com, MansionCasino.com, and other popular sites. The genre has grown into a popular form of online gambling as internet access becomes more widespread and broadband speeds improve.
There has also been a push to improve awareness by online Casino Games providers both for the responsible use of their services, as well as the ease of use which allows members the opportunity to take part from the comfort of their homes. Most of these services are now also available on mobile devices for gaming on the go.
- Fantasy Games and E-Sports
image credit: Trustedreviews.com
While most internet based services are finding new life as apps or mobile-based games, one area of the industry that continues to thrive online is that of Fantasy Games.
The main reason these types of games remain commonly played on computers is the fact that they are usually MMORPG and MMO games. These games are online role-playing video games in which a very large number of players participate simultaneously hence the need for playing online.
Such games may be fantasy games that transport players into alternate realities and as such require large amounts of bandwidth as well as reliable internet speeds.
Another reason for their continued popularity is the fact that these titles are still usually free-to-play as well which lowers any barriers to entry. Through 2016, industry analysts predict massive growth in this genre as E-Sports (videogame-based competition) becomes ever more popular.
Most E-Sports are usually based on MMORPG and MMO games and the industry is already seeing massive growth in America and mostly in Asia.
Conclusion
The above three are seen as the fastest growing trends in online games for 2016 and beyond. As technology continues to advance it remains to be seen where they will be come the end of the year, but chances are we will all have heard of them, or even played some of them!
