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In case it wasn’t already clear, online gaming is here to stay. Whether you enjoy fighting it out in a Fortnite battle with friends or creating your own dream Minecraft world, gaming has certainly come a long way since the early days. You’ve probably seen (and maybe even played) original games such as Pong, Pacman, and Space Race. While they bear little resemblance to today’s most popular titles — World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and DOTA 2 — these new games owe a great deal to forerunning software developers.
Looking towards the future of gaming, technological innovations and increased investment means that gaming enthusiasts can look forward to promising developments across graphics, gameplay, and narrative styles. However, it’s important that gamers don’t take their eyes off the biggest issue of all — online security.
Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about safe gaming practices while taking full advantage of new and exciting gaming technology.
Gaming Trends of the future
1. Virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is already making great strides in the gaming industry, with many developers taking advantage of the opportunity to fully immerse players in the world of a game. The PlayStation VR was developed in 2016 and since then, a wide range of titles have been released to great acclaim.
However, the price of VR technology is still prohibitively expensive for many people. As technology becomes cheaper and more accessible, expect to see software developers invest more time and energy into creating games that incorporate virtual reality.
2. Facial recognition
Facial recognition is a hot topic at the moment, and with good reason. Increased surveillance by government agencies means that many people are concerned about the privacy of their personally identifiable information, including biometrics.
Within gaming, facial recognition is already being used to verify the identity of players. This can prevent those under the age of 18 from accessing inappropriate content and is also being used to fight against gaming addiction.
3D scanning technology is also being incorporated into games to enable gamers to create look-alike characters and play as themselves.
3. Wearables
Wearables have long been a part of gaming, a trend that is only expected to increase in the future. Many of us already have smartwatches that track our movement, sleep, and heart rate. This kind of technology can be further adapted to provide an immersive, in-game experience.
Devices including wristbands, glasses, and earbuds are expected to transform into controllers, taking gaming to a whole new level.
4. Mobile gaming apps
Mobile apps have always been popular, but many developers still see this as an untapped market. A few years ago, Pokemon Go showed the world just how significant an impact mobile games could have on the broader industry.
While many well-established gaming companies are looking to adapt their existing titles for the mobile platform, games that are specifically designed to be played on the small screen are also expected to increase in popularity and general usability.
5. Advancements in the multiplayer experience
Being able to battle it out both against and with friends is why many people love online gaming. However, this type of game style has often been quite restrictive — you are either on the same team or fighting against your online friends.
The future promises a far more immersive and complex multiplayer experience, where you are granted the opportunity to take on a character in an ensemble cast of fully-developed personas.
Staying safe online
While this all sounds very exciting, it’s important that gamers don’t lose sight of what is really important — their online security.
Just as game developers are looking for innovative ways to improve the gaming experience, online criminals are searching for new methods to trick vulnerable and unsuspecting victims. With this in mind, always be sure to follow these gaming-related cyber safety tips:
- Password protect your devices: All devices — whether a laptop, mobile, tablet, or PC — should be protected using strong passwords. Never use the same password for multiple devices or accounts and consider using a password manager to store and protect your private information.
- Use a VPN: A VPN — or virtual private network — is an essential tool in your security armory. A VPN will protect both your location and online activity from prying eyes and can keep you safe from online gaming-related attacks including doxxing, DDoS attacks, and webcam hacking.
- Stick to reputable websites: Games can be expensive to purchase, meaning many gamers look for cheap (and illegal) download options. Unfortunately, these bootleg copies are often riddled with viruses and malware. Only ever download games from reputable websites and never follow suspicious links that promise freebies.
- Use security software: Whether you are a passionate online gamer or just enjoy the odd battle every now and then, everyone should be using security software. Ideally, opt for software that is specifically designed to combat the top threats faced by gamers — viruses and malware, hacking, and doxxing.
The future of gaming is bright for gamers; by following these tips for safe gaming, you can spend hours glued to the screen without risk to your online security.
Images credit: Pixabay
About Author: Bridget is a writer and editor, currently living in Melbourne. She is a copywriter for Newpath Web and loves working with words of all shapes and sizes. When not playing around with punctuation and grammar, she enjoys travelling and curating her Spotify playlists.
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