What Will the Future of Gaming Look Like?

New gaming innovation at CES this year offered some real overhauls for PC gamers. In any case, as the digital and physical world turn out to be perpetually interwoven, gamers might not be shackled to screens for any longer. We chose to examine what the eventual fate of gaming might look like.

In some respects, this year’s Consumer Electronics Show was a quiet one for gaming. None of the console giants wanted to reveal anything new. Yet CES 2018 had plenty for gamers to drool over. New PC peripherals offer enhanced controls and stunning graphics. In addition, the expo revealed what the future of gaming might look like. Instead of being shackled to screens, players may soon have the opportunity to get physical. The question is, will they want to?

Instant Upgrades

In the present, gaming is about fast reactions and even faster fingers. Every millisecond counts when you’re trying to run through your Overwatch enemies or score the winner in Rocket League. For players who enjoy this traditional form of gaming, CES 2018 had plenty to offer.

• The new Rival 600 mouse from SteelSeries uses a unique dual-sensor system to detect the smallest liftoffs.
• Nvidia’s BFGD (Big Format Gaming Display) is a 65-inch TV with 4K resolution, with the refresh rate of a gaming monitor.
• Corsair launched the world’s first wireless mechanical keyboard with backlighting.
• The Netgear Nighthawk Pro router offers an astonishing array of settings to keep your online sessions lag-free.

The new SteelSeries mouse

These new products are worthwhile investments for the most committed PC gamers. But as the gaming community becomes more diverse, many players are looking for something a little different.

As the digital and physical worlds become ever more intertwined, gamers might not be shackled to screens for much longer

Retro Returns

Retro gaming has seen an unprecedented revival in recent years. Rather than pouring scorn over the 8-bit graphics, players are actively drawn by the blocky charm. This trend looks set to continue, with a rash of new-yet-old consoles on the horizon.

New retro consoles (credit: Gamespot)

A startup named Retro-bit is in prime position to capitalize, having just announced a string of new devices modeled on classic consoles. Priced between $35 and $80 with numerous titles pre-loaded, they offer affordable fun. Folks who value gameplay over graphics should definitely be excited.

Official Sega remakes on the way (credit: Gamespot)

Something New

While many players are looking to the past, the future of gaming also has much to offer. Augmented reality could play a major part.

Augmented reality bugs

There were several impressive examples on show at CES this year. One demo utilized a real drone. The player could see a first-person view from the quadcopter, along with a swarm of virtual critters to shoot at. Another demo offered a real hockey stick that allowed you to play with a virtual puck.

Such ideas are clearly fun, but there are problems to overcome. Who has space in their home to fly a drone? What kind of damage could you do, waving around a hockey stick? Perhaps this is why a brand new kind of gaming arcade is just taking off.

Virtual reality arcades are vast indoor spaces dedicated to gaming. Players wear headsets and stand on 360-degree treadmills, so they can actually walk around virtual battlefields. Augmented reality games also feature here, with plenty of room for multiplayer missions.

Future of Gaming

Gaming is very obviously on the cusp of a revolution. While PC gaming gear continues to improve, new technologies are starting to open up new kinds of play. Furthermore, as the price of VR headsets continues to fall, more gamers will invest in the hardware. Although such systems are not likely to prevail in the next couple of years, we can expect the future of gaming to be much more immersive.

Are you a fan of virtual reality, or do you prefer traditional gaming? Share your thoughts in the comments.

This article was first published on Gadget Flow