The future of gaming

What do you think the future of gaming will be like?

Personally, I can imagine a future where there will be no physical games, just digital downloads. So consoles won't have a CD tray or opening. And... no hard drive either. All games will be saved online.

This means future consoles can be much smaller.

And don't forget about 4k and 8k, and VR. There's also talk of game streaming coming shortly.

All this requires a very high-speed, stable, Internet connection. So better Internet will be needed beforehand.

How do you see the future of gaming?

I think something like VR+ cloud gaming/

VR will definitely be a huge part of the future. Both in terms of playing VR games and simulating non-VR games on virtual screens. 8K is the limit for normal displays, so that will eventually be standard unless 6K takes off which would be good enough for most people. Game streaming will take off and be a very core part of gaming, but will have to be optional for as long as it excludes those without good enough connections.

Like William Gibson's Necromancer, The Matrix, or Sword Art Online, you plug your brain in and experience a virtual world through direct input/output of all five senses.

Or maybe we'll have augmented reality like Pokemon Go, but with more meaningful and interesting real-world interactions.

Only thing I'm certain on is the Battle Royale genre will die out to at least capture the flag levels of relevance.

Speaking of game streaming, have you tried GeForce Now yet?

It's the craziest thing I've ever had to experience in my life as far as gaming goes.

I'm able to play the latest games at highest graphics settings without lag... On a Mac.

I have a 100 MB/s internet connection so that might be why I enjoy game streaming so much...

But it literally made me not buy a new gaming computer :)

If you ever watched the show Black Mirror and seen the episode San Junipero that's what I want in gaming. I want to feel like I'm in a real place imagine if it was possible to star in a classic movie like Terminator or Die Hard that's what I hope the future is complete immersion.

Well since the PS2 we don't really have anything new in term of controlers or type of games or mecanics in games ...

But graphics, acheivements, DLCs, digital games, buying a game with the DLC before the DLC came out as a Deluxe version, then physical and digital game at the same price, many online feature even in single player games ... streaming all became things ...

I know think that it will be obvious that we will go to digital only games.

Yep, I agree games will be digital and mostly VR. Consoles will be more compact too. Cloud storage as well.

I really hope not, at least, not under the current format. I have yet to see a game built for these peripherals that I did not wish I was playing on a regular keyboard and mouse / gamepad setup.

I like the idea of VR, and would like to eventually buy one, but the current tech makes it out to be just a gimmick.

They are mutually exclusive. I guess you're talking abou streaming here? I think there will always be people who want their games to run on their hardware. But yeah, I can see Sony becommine nothing more than a PsNow App on your Tv in the long run.

I have VR, I use VR and I can tell you its not a gimmick.

but feel free to miss out

yeah, this ^

It's always people who never experienced VR who speak bad of it. People who tried it at my home, even people who thought they will hate it, ended up liking it. They usually just don't think it's worth all the money you have to put in it. But they do love to play stuff on my Vive

my ONLY complaint about it is set up when it comes to gaming.

Its just easier to slap down on a pancake monitor and go. I could however, buy a dedicated machine just for VR stuff and have it always set up and ready to go but that would be even more money and space

You definitely would not want to play Lone Echo or Echo Arena or Astro Bot or Moss or Robo Recall or Sprint Vector or Beat Saber or Budget Cuts on a monitor. Many of those would be impossible to make without VR anyway.

Current VR is definitely not a gimmick, it's just clunky and low-specced like the early days of gaming, but still definitely enjoyable. You should really try it at some point.

For me the setup is really fast. If I want to play something seated, I can start at any point. If I want room scale, I know exactly what I have to move where to have the biggest possible space to play. It takes me less than 5 minutes to do room scale VR.

My main "problem" right now is that I became a father half a year ago and while it is possible to play games while she is sleeping, I don't want to go into VR because I wouldn't see if she wakes up. So I can only do VR stuff when my wive looks after the baby, but I can play normal games when I have to look after the baby and she's sleeping.

The future is definitely not VR.

VR is the inspired idea of evolving the home and arcade markets, both of which are probably waning slowly. Even something arcade/home-ish similar to the one from Ready Player One is the evolved form of VR. However, I don't see home VR as viable mainly because carrying VR equipment on the go is inconvenient and unsuitable for work environments and because it would not be very attractive especially to Japanese gamers who often use handhelds. Arcade VR would probably suffer the same fate as the arcade market of the 1980s.

iPads, smartphones, and iPhones have made mobile gaming increasingly popular over the years, so I can see more video games going mobile. Unsure whether to say the same for Nintendo handhelds... and Switch, which (alongside probably 3DS?) requires Internet connection very much to update its firmware, but it is making AAA games more mobile. Of course, there are battery issues, but I still can see mobile gaming having much more potential than gamers would realize.

The issue of digital video gaming is licensing, especially when a player wants to transfer a game into another device. Even when licensing would make distributing digital games easier, physical format won't be obsolete... ever, even when it might steadily decline.

I think blockchain based gaming will be future reality. Blockchain based ownership of in game resources and more where players can trade Items with each others without third party. I already play a game that slowly achieves it and It's quite good and addictive game. If someone is interested in the game, it's called Spells of Genesis. Another interesting game is coming out soon is called à table game. Ask me anything about these games if you are interested in more

VR is an accessory. Most of the games released to be used in conjunction with it tend to become available trough more standard mean.

They are usually nothing to write home about.

So let's do this instead : You enjoy your expensive toy, and i spend my 700 quid elsewhere ;)

I am missing out on nothing at all.

Ninja edit : I should probably make this clear : I have played VR.

1. not true, absolutely positively false. the vast majority of VR games are actually dedicated VR titles. Just check steam under VR

https://store.steampowered.com/vr/

2. I dont believe you have played much VR, you appear to not have a clue.

but yes..I have ZERO problem spending top dollar for top experiences I enjoy. My headphones are $600 for christ sake and YES they are better

You may have played VR, but that doesn't mean you understand where the industry is right now. Astro Bot is a genuine GOTY contender and you can't play it anywhere else but in VR. There are endless threads of people calling it mindblowing, many people of which who were skeptics of VR that bought a headset mostly for that game. It almost universally blows minds.

But it's not like this is the only truly great game. Lone Echo and Echo VR, Moss, Robo Recall, Beat Saber, Budget Cuts, Sprint Vector, Vox Machinae, Firewall Zero Hour. All of these are highly rated and regarded and in most cases have plenty to offer.

Notice I didn't list any ports.

This I'm so sick of hearing people say that VR is a gimmick VR is not a gimmick it's the most impressive tech and mind blowing experience of this generation. I would love to see all the nay sayers try Rift or Vive. This AirCar demo in VR really gives a taste of the future. I own a Rift and this is one of the most impressive demos I have ever seen of course a video will never do it justice like seeing it and playing it in VR but still.

That's still a problem for VR. I mean, we can stand here all day talking about how people are silly for dismissing it and not being interested in it, but that kind of still means that they aren't buying it.

Heck, you're saying that even the people who you have let try it out still aren't willing to go out and pay for it. When it comes to products like this, "liking something and not willing to buy it" is pretty much the same as "disliking something without ever trying it". Either way, that's a non-sale. And this kind of stuff doesn't catch on unless it DOES sell.

That's not criticism of VR, I'm just saying that you aren't making a very compelling argument.

Oh I'm with you. I do understand people not wanting to spent like 3k for a proper VR setup. I'm just annoyed at people who never used VR to speak how bad it is. it is not. It is awesome. It's just also really expensive. Jest because I can't afford to have a driver drive me everywhere in a Limo I'm not going around everywhere saying Limos suck

We're not saying limos suck. We're saying limos are not a very good investment as vehicles for personal use. Limos are not going to take over the current methods of transportation for most of us. Limos are not the future of transport.

That's not to say limos are not fun to drive / being driven around, it just makes no sense to buy one, considering it's format.

I've played a few titles, on multiple VR peripherals, and again, it feels like little more than a gimmick.

Let me put it this way : When you looked at Wii motion / Kinect / PS Move, did you have a feeling it would take over as the primary method to play games? Did you get a feel for the "Future of gaming(tm)''?

I feel the exact same way about VR. Worst is, this time around, it is not built into the hardware price, i have to actually go out and shell out 700 - 1000 quid.

So again, fun little accessories, but still a gimmick under the current format.

Quick edit : I took a quick look at Astro Bot, recommended by somebody else earlier in the conversation, and that thing could be played on a regular screen and loose absolutely nothing in term of playability. Hell, you would likely get better FPS and a higher resolution. The game would actually benefit from being taken out of VR. Think about it.

People love the idea of VR. When they try it, they generally find it impressive or has clear potential. However, it is still generation 1 which means there are drawbacks in cables, setup, resolution, and other areas. People still often love it, but know that the price and drawbacks need to get better before they inevitably jump in.

Similarly, other gen 1 products faced the same issues. People see the potential, but it's too complicated and too expensive. Refinement will get us past all these issues in the next couple of generations.

As it stands, you are a minority. Very few people see VR as a gimmick after trying it. Even futher, no one sees it as a gimmick after they try the best of the best in software and hardware. People do not see this the same as Kinect or Wii at all. If they do, it's a tiny tiny minority, and certainly a minority that doesn't have anything resembling the full picture of what VR can do.

What games have you actually played? They can't have been titles like Astro Bot which in itself you mention not playing.

You're also making assumptions here about Astro Bot which every review and every fan impression of the game pretty much ever clearly states that the game would not work without VR. You'd have a widely different, widely inferior game in every way. No one would prefer it that way, and as I said, it would be a spinoff because you can't rework all those core mechanics.

Try the game before making a judgement on it, because almost every belief you have about VR is actually incorrect.

Have you read Palmer Lucky's dissection of the reaction of consumers toward VR, which he, himself, helped popularize?

Looks like you got some reading to do, buddy ;)

Super mega edit : At any rate, I can see this is getting way too personal for a lot of you.

As a result, let me finalize my thoughts in a way that would allow you all to move on with your day : VR is fine, VR is fun, but, as the subject of this thread suggests, I do not believe VR is the future of gaming, at least not in it's current format.

Please be assured that I do not wish to lessen your enjoyment of these expensive toys you have purchased for yourselves!

To put the thread back on track, here is my vision of the future of gaming :

As much as I hate to admit it, streaming devices with no physical medias and a monthly / yearly membership is the way this is gonna go down for a lot of people.

Microsoft seems to be pushing HARD in that direction, and major content producers, such as EA and Ubisoft have already mentioned this is how they see the next generation of gaming consoles.

I am primarily a PC player, and I hope to believe this is not going to translate as hard for me.

Only time will tell, I guess.

Well I kinda agree, kinda not. If the main reason to not own VR is its price, then it's only a matter of time until we see models where people want to get them. We know that technology gets better and cheaper as time passes. So one day we might see VR that can do much more than current devices for a much smaller budget. And once we are there, it can very well be extremely popular.

Or in other words: If I get a driver with a limo that can fly for 5 bucks a month, I won't ever drive my car again

Hence, what I meant by ''Current format'' ;)

At any rate, I digress, the people that have had a really good experience with the peripheral seem to generally really enjoy it and are quick to recommend it, which is good, all things considered.

Yes, I have. His dissection is that basically everyone who tries VR becomes a believer in the tech, which he goes on to say is the opposite of how it worked in the 90s. People imagined VR being good in the 90s and were sorely disappointed after trying it, whereas those working in VR knew it was bad all along.

Since this goes against your own point, I'm not really sure why you brought it up?

https://virtualperceptions.com/2018/10/30/palmer-luckey-asserts-that-millions-buy-vr-but-not-use-for-very-long/

He himself admit we are just not there yet.

But it doesn't matter. Ultimately, you guys are passionate about the platform and I can respect that.

Peace.

I know this myself. I haven't said we are there yet for the average consumer to strap in for a long time, keep coming back, or to purchase it after trying it in the first place.

But the core idea is something people ultimately love at the end of the day. Once we have a visor like in Ready Player One, and it's high resolution, wide FoV, wireless, solves vergence accommodation, can track a full human body including fingers and has mixed reality, it will take off.

The visor could be 5 years or 10 years away, who knows. But the rest is really no more than 4 years away.

Oh, I agree. I haven't tried VR either. I'd never go so far to say that it sucks, and everything I've heard from most people who have tried it is that it's great.

I'm just saying that just as limos aren't "the future of cars", I don't see VR being "the future of gaming" until the costs go WAY down. It's still got a long way to go before it really catches on.

oh alright, I guess our opinions aren't that far away then. I'm just really bothered by people hating on VR in general without ever trying it out. I fully agree that it is not (yet) ready for the mass market, but I can see it being a platform that can exist next to traditional gaming and doing really good if they fix their main issues like cost of entry

I think the Resolution Wars will eventually get to the point where it doesn't matter; I mean the human eye can only see so much detail, and we were heading that direction anyway. 4K is here, 8K is on the horizon (and also kind of here)...I mean what's next?

I think AAA development, well I don't think it will tank, but I think it will continue to lose chunks of the market to independent studios, or smaller studios. I think we will continue to see more and more "AAA-like" indie games (a term I loathe, but is nonetheless appropriate here) come about as gamers become more interested in quality gameplay instead of trends.

I think consoles will eventually just turn into computers, with mouse and keyboards.

Well, people better stop calling VR a fad and start buying some units.

I love VR btw most immersive thing you can do these days gaming-wise.

8K is the absolute limit as it equals 20/10 vision which is the absolute maximum acuity for a human. Very few people have this acuity. The average acuity is 20/15 which means the average person cannot perceive anything higher than 6K. 20/20 vision equates to 4K for reference.

So any display higher than 8K will be either for VR and AR as the limits are harder to hit here or if you need to zoom.

Okay. We've been discussing future of gaming in general. What about the future of casual gaming and the future of hardcore gaming? How would VR gaming attract casual gamers in the future?

Death of physical media.... or at least from major publishers.

I also predict the death of digital downloads and just play everything on the cloud. I mean there is no reason to own games when you can subscribe......................................

There are casual games for VR just like there are casual games for all gaming platforms. VR will become usable by casuals as the hardware improves and becomes more convenient.

@blueberry_bandit: How often would casual gamers spend time on VR gaming?

Completely depends on when you ask that. Today, not so much. In 5-10 years when the tech is much more attainable and comfortable and convenient, you will see them use it just as much as they would traditional games. That will vary from user to user too.

@blueberry_bandit: I think we should split VR into possible various genres as VR is vague to summarize. VR platforming wouldn't be attractive to casual gamers or would be impossible; they would have difficulties jumping through gaps. Same for VR RPG (story-oriented or not) because, like traditional RPGs, its games would be very time-consuming and hard to execute and utilize, even when a such game would contain an open world.

But I bet VR sports, flying simulation, VR physical combating fighting, VR racing, and VR board gaming would be top notches for casuals. What about VR strategy gaming, VR first-person climbing, and VR 1st-person weaponry action (like shooting, arching, or sword fighting)? Would a casual player want to play a VR puzzle game or a VR matching game?

VR platforming would have to be further defined. 1st or 3rd person? Astro Bot is already played and liked by casual games today and that is a 3rd person platformer. 1st person is more intense so less suitable for casuals but of course some casuals will play it, and maybe use it as workout even.

VR strategy games can definitely work for casuals.

1st person climbing, I'm not sure I would consider that a genre, but that definitely has casual appeal if the game can be enjoyed in bitesized chunks.

1st person action games would appeal to casuals if they were arcade-based. Something like the archery minigame from The Lab for example. Robo Recall is another example for an FPS.

Puzzle games definitely have appeal for casuals, especially escape rooms.

There will be new genres too that shift between AR and VR once headsets can do both instead of just one You might have parts of the game shift between the real and virtual world, which keeps people somewhat grounded in reality and therefore appeals to casuals.

@blueberry_bandit: Oh, right. Speaking of workouts, we can have VR Just Dance-alike games and VR exercise games, similar to Wii Fit (sans the clunky balance board). They would attract casuals a lot more.

Beat Saber is the perfect example of this especially since it's made to make you to dance and can be mapped to recreate dance routines. Definitely the best example of fun casual VR to date.

I'm not sure if dancing games will have much of a market in the long-term. In the short-term, yeah, but once we have a metaverse, people will just hop into the metaverse and dance with their friends rather than doing it in one single game. You'll have real DJs, events, parties, and stuff like that.

The metaverse will no doubt be easy to jump in and out of, so will be suitable for casuals if you're worried about that.