No, we still don’t have GTA 6. But there are some other major shake-ups and developments going down in the world of gaming that are worth making a noise about. Here’s a round-up of trends that are influencing gaming right now.
1. User-generated content
Good news if you love sandbox games that give you the freedom to use your creativity for world-building: with user-generated content (UGC) becoming more and more popular in gaming, a growing number of games are embracing it. (Perhaps if GTA had this option, we’d already have GTA 6… ok, I’ll stop.) Roblox and Minecraft are obvious examples, but more games are starting to embrace the trend, giving players the freedom to design their own levels, modes and more. Roblox already sees itself as a social network – and that’s certainly where this trend is heading, with gaming becoming increasingly community-centric and social.
2. Cross-platform experiences
Gamers used to be divided into two camps: console gamers and PC gamers. (Mobile wasn’t even a thing yet.) But, over time, the lines started to blur. With the arrival of cloud gaming, the era of cross-platform gaming had arrived – and it’s booming. With more demand for quality cross-platform gaming experiences, publishers are starting to build platform-agnostic games. That means it will soon be normal to enjoy top-notch gaming experiences from popular titles, regardless of what device you’re playing on.
3. Virtual reality slow-burn
Speaking of platforms… when Facebook-the-company rebranded to Meta, the conversation was all about VR – and it had us thinking we’d all be hanging out in a Ready Player One-type metaverse by now. And then the hype just kinda fizzled out. But VR isn’t dead – it’s just quietly getting better and cheaper. Early headsets cost a small fortune and gave people motion sickness in return. But the tech is advancing, and once it hits the sweet spot of affordability-meets-quality, it’ll likely surge.
4. Esports rising
Esports is a multi-billion-dollar industry globally, and here in South Africa, it’s really taking off as fast fibre connections make competitive gaming more accessible. There are interschools and intervarsity events, and in April this year, SuperSport broadcast the Rocket League Championship Series Sub-Saharan Africa events live on DStv – a major win for local gaming.
5. AI in gaming
Of course, we couldn’t have a trends list without including the biggest thing to happen to the digital world in decades. AI is showing up in game development in various ways – from content creation with generative AI to AI-powered data analysis. But it’s not all about the behind-the-scenes action. As AI rolls out in-game, players can expect more personalised and immersive experiences. Soon, you could have real conversations with NPCs instead of receiving scripted dialogues. Down the line, your experience of a game could be completely different to someone else’s, as it adapts to your preferences and style of play.
From local esports tournaments to global online battles, Vodacom’s high-speed fibre helps South African gamers keep up with the trends and in touch with the world. Check your coverage to take advantage of Vodacom’s amazing high-speed fibre deals.
