What to Expect from the Gaming Scene in 2024

2023 has been a fantastic year for the video game industry, thanks to new high-profile games and next-gen gaming consoles. The industry hit the USD 257 billion mark in value, with over three billion gamers globally. 

Looking into the future, gaming will become more mainstream due to its social benefits. But what’s fueling the video game industry to remain afloat? Here’s what to expect from the gaming scene in 2024, from cloud gaming to metaverse to generative AI. 

Massive Changes in iGaming  

In 2024, iGaming will continue to embrace the latest technologies to stay ahead of the curve. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will become mainstream in developing more interactive games. 

What’s more exciting is the regulatory changes, especially in the casino gaming sector. Authorities across the globe will tighten the noose to ensure responsible gambling within their jurisdictions. Such regulation will also ensure fair play in games and that any gambling site is safe, secure, and licensed before operation. 

These new to the iGaming scene sites can expect a more real experience, with stunning visuals, and immersive soundscapes to vibrant colors and animations. The end result? A library of games that are intuitive to play and make you feel like you are right there in them.

Gaming Becoming a Mainstream Source of Income

Traditionally, gaming is for fun and connecting with family and friends. But recently, people have started making money playing video games, which will continue in 2024.

If you are a professional gamer, you can register to take part in eSports tournaments like Dota 2 and the League of Legends. For example, the 2023 Dota 2 tournament The International had a prize pool of $3,144,270. The winners (Team Spirit) pocketed $1,414,524 and the rest was shared among the other top contestants. 

Alternatively, you can earn money as a video games tutor, Twitch streamer, games tester, and writing video game reviews. Another option is to design games (technical skills are needed) and monetize them through in-app purchases and ads.  

More Integration of Generative AI 

After hitting the headlines in 2023, there’s no doubt generative AI will continue to mature in 2024. Generative AI will revolutionize gaming by scaling game development and powering real-time responsive games. 

Gaming companies spend millions of dollars on game development which can take a long time to release a title. Luckily, companies can use generative AI to speed up game creation to meet the growing demand for new games. AI can be integrated into coding, art, and dialogue, the fundamental parts of content creation.  

Consequently, generative AI is a crucial technology in creating reactive and interactive games. This next-generation innovation uses large language models (LLMs) to create games that respond to player’s explicit or implicit actions in real-time. The least we can expect is a more personalized and interactive set of games. 

Cloud Gaming Will Gain More Traction 

Cloud gaming is considered an emerging niche among the top gaming industries across the world. The new gaming feature holds immense growth potential, and for a good reason. 

With cloud gaming (on-demand gaming) there’s no need to own high-end gaming hardware. Players can access a library of games anytime and anywhere from remote servers. Cloud gaming is a subscription-based service with the potential to reach a wider audience in 2024. 

Tech giants like Xbox, Nvidia, Sony, and Microsoft are leading the way in offering on-demand gaming services. With the introduction of the 5G network, streaming games from the cloud will become more popular. As a result, the value of cloud gaming is expected to grow to about $3 billion in 2024. 

Free-to-Play Game Market Will Continue to Grow

Free-to-play (F2P) games have dominated the gaming market for long, and there’s no sign they are stopping any time soon. F2P games have in-game purchases and ads to generate income. In 2023, the market value of F2P games was approximately $83.6 billion. 

Why is the free-to-play game market expected to grow in 2024? 

It’s easier for a larger audience to adopt F2P games as there’s no commitment to monthly payments. This gives developers the green light to continuously produce engaging content and monetize it without interfering with the gameplay. 

Netflix Games Will Become Popular 

Netflix took advantage of its more than 247 million subscribers to build a dedicated games portfolio. Netflix has a collection of downloadable game content on players’ devices, from Oxenfree II to Immortality to Into the Breach. The company will be launching Hades in 2024. 

Netflix is also investing in cloud gaming. The company is working on a Triple-A title as its entrance into the on-demand gaming scene. So, we expect it to release more TV-based stream games to its audience in 2024 and beyond as the market continues to expand. 

Gaming Will Get Better in 2024 

With advances in technology, video games are becoming more immersive. In 2024, we expect to see games with high-level graphics in real-time built with the Unreal 5 engine. VR and AR will continue to grow as eSports tournaments and cloud gaming become more prominent. Generative AI will be used more in coding games, creating dynamic storylines, and developing interactive and responsive characters.