Seeing as many of my previous predictions about the current trends we're seeing in gaming right now have come true, I've decided to channel the gods once again and manifest yet another set of prophecies for the future of gaming. Maybe this time someone will believe me.
Cloud-based gaming
Computers have become the size of entire rooms again, but the processing power of these current cloud-based processor farms are beyond anything we've ever seen. Crackdown 3 demonstrated this tech a few years back, showing a multiplayer mode where every element of the map is procedurally destructible; a feat far beyond the power of current consoles. But with Microsoft's cloud processors behind the project, anything is possible. It's only a matter of time before other developers start using this technique to create unbelievable content. if the current battle royale trend continues, this kind of technology could be very helpful...
The mobile takeover
Mobile games have usually been more gimmick than game. Epic released Fortnite on mobile and all that changed. Fortnite on mobile doesn't feel like a mobile game, it feels like a game. PUBG followed suit and released their own stellar port, and now the landscape of mobile gaming is interesting all of a sudden. With the increasing power of mobile devices, and the industry's movement towards portability (Nintendo), mobile gaming is going to see a lot more great content. What I'm wondering is if mobile games will ever become compatible with the competitive scene. That's where the potential lies.
AR/VR
The realm of virtual reality has been a promise of "the future" for decades. Now is the time though. The hardware is becoming better and better each year; the latency on the newest Vive is barely noticeable and the experience is becoming almost too immersive. Apple has decided to back Augmented reality as well, so expect to see some exciting things in that area, although augmented reality seems tailor fit for advertisement and media a lot more than gaming.
VR is where the games will be, the tricky part is selling the hardware. Getting the goggles into homes is the first step. The way to do it is with undeniable software. The Switch sold like crazy even when it was just a Zelda machine because people love Zelda. My guess is VR will follow suit, and in my mind there's only one game that would be able to start an entire VR movement: Half Life 3.
Mark my words...
The return of the MMORPG
World of Warcraft used to rule the world. Blizzard used to be the King of the MMORPG. While the company is still flying high through other avenues, the MMORPG certainly fell from grace. They still exist with relative popularity and diehard fan bases (once an EVE player always an EVE player), but they've taken a back seat to shooters and the competitive scene as of late. They are definitely on their way back though.
Larger, more immersive, seamless multiplayer experiences are becoming possible, and the line between RPG and MMORPG will become very blurry. Rockstar started blurring these lines with GTAV back in the day. While not really an MMO or an RPG, the game demonstrates a demand for that kind of experience. Expect Red Dead 2 to build on that work.
Furthermore, the true MMORPG is likely to come back when a WoW-like title is released on mobile that's actually good. There were plenty of shooters you could get on your phone, but they were all garbage until Fortnite came along. Once a company does the same with the RPG, things will change.
The death of the console war
Streaming services have changed the movie industry. Streaming games is also starting to gain some steam (pun intended). Downloading gamings is ubiquitous on PC, but consoles still sell more discs than files. The rate at which technology advances these days makes the console model rather impractical. Small, incremental updates will become the norm, while downloading games onto hard drives will become the only way to do it. The differences between separate consoles will become so small, to the point where competition will become almost irrelevant. Cross-platform play will also contribute to this wall breaking down. Rocket League already proved the success of this idea, and Fortnite is next. Our kids will never understand the joy of heated arguments about the benefits of an xbox over a playstation.
Toys
Everything is digital these days. I was lucky enough to witness the transition from analog to ones and zeroes, but many gamers these days have only known the latter. The pendulum is starting to swing though, and toys in gaming are really starting to catch on. Amiibos are extremely popular amongst collectors and kids, and it looks like Nintendo is doubling down on the idea. The Nintendo Labo, essentially a bunch of cardboard that works with the Switch, is set to release next month, and its very intriguing. If Labo is well received by consumers, gaming will continue to become more and more physical.
Before you know it Microsoft will be selling rocking horses.