The future of game development

Gaming has come a long way since the first arcade games were invented in the early 1900s. From the original pinball machine, to today’s gaming world of Virtual Reality, the gaming industry has advanced rapidly. We can look back on the gaming evolution over the decades but seeing into the future isn’t so easy.

However, based on current trends we can take some educated guesses into the future of gaming.

Trends Among Platforms

Mobile

Mobile game development has gone through some major changes since the days of Snake on Nokia phones. Mobile gaming is an industry that has transformed itself many times over and continues to do so. Through increased visuals, mobile games have become much more attractive to the user. In fact, many developers have switched from using CPUs to GPUs which allows for greater visual processing power.

Mobile gaming applies to many devices running different OSs. From Android to iOS to Windows, the mobile gaming world is not lacking in app stores. But when it comes to accessibility and gaming, Android is a better option for users. Boasting the highest number of free games, Google Play offers developers much more flexibility in terms of developing for the Android platform. Android users are even able to download directly from developers sites, which is strictly forbidden on iOS. While it is acknowledged that iOS devices offer a better visual experience, their closed App Store makes the development process tougher on developers to publish games. This in turn means that the user has less variety.

Computer

Computer gaming is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Sure, solitaire will always exist but the gaming industry is moving away from computer games, largely due to the accessibility of mobile phones. Why download a game when you already have the app? This is further backed up by the decreased popularity and reputability of the Windows Store. Windows games are not compatible across multiple platforms and can’t be added to your Steam Community library.

Alas, computer gaming is losing momentum but let’s not discredit it completely. Large screens, high performance, long battery lives and access to sites such as GOG all work in favor of computer gaming and that’s not to be ignored. Trends show that development of computer games is declining and development of mobile games is increasing. A great way to marry these two platforms is through Andy OS. This software gives gamers access to millions of titles available on Android mobile gaming while still benefiting from the advantages of a computer. A shift towards mobile gaming and away from computer gaming does not have to be a loss for those who prefer the computer.

Games Console

The first video game consoles were released in the 1960s which means that children who grew up playing these consoles are now nearing retirement age. This also means that video game consoles have evolved over multiple generations. Due to this loyalty that bridges generations, video game developers are adopting the rising trend of taking a transparent approach with their user base. By allowing users to stream the developments in progress, the developers are engaging the users, promoting their games and opening up the abilities to receive real-time feedback in the development process.

Developer Focus

Whether games are being developed for consoles, web, mobile or VR headsets, developers tend to code in similar and effective patterns. The trends of today focus on optimizing performance and enabling the user to maximize play time.

Infrastructure

Whereas native game development used to be a given, the trend is in fact shifting toward generalized frameworks upon which developers can build. Native game development is great in terms of creating a brand new, visually appealing and smooth running game but it is pricey to say the least. Building an entire game from scratch requires multiple developers and is time consuming. Now, thanks to source code libraries, developers are able to start from a solid basis and can build games from that starting point. Saving time in terms of the coding itself, developers are able to better focus on details of the game, making the games more intricate and entertaining for the user.

Cloud Computing

Games aren’t the only technology that has evolved in recent times. Cloud computing has advanced from its simplistic and basic forms, which directly plays into the emphasis developers are placing on their development styles. No longer simplistic, cloud computing is preferable in its complex form as it enables much more flexibility for the developer in terms of storage. More complex cloud computer means more efficient coders.

Predictions

Each gaming platform offers a multitude of advantages for the user and developer. The evolution that took place since gaming first came about has played into the gaming world that we exist in currently. So what’s next?

Though Oculus Rift has only recently been released, it is taking off. Not only is it influencing the way that we game, it is also influencing social justice. Due to the fact that VR headsets are so popular, there is talk of the advent of VR cloud computing, meaning that the games are streamed directly to the VR headset itself. This makes VR more reasonably priced, thus becoming more accessible to the general population. It is an exciting prospect that we not only hope to see in the future, but see as a very viable option for the future.

Thanks to Miitomo, Nintendo’s new mobile world, mobile gaming is on the brink of a revolution. No longer strictly creating gaming platforms, Nintendo is redefining what online social interactions mean. With games set to be added to this platform, simulating social experiences through mobile gaming technology will be shaped similarly to the ways in which VR influences physical experiences.

As for developers themselves, gone are the days of a drawn out four year degree program. Young developers are more and more frequently opting to study at coding bootcamps rather than for a computer science degree. The ability to learn professional coding skills in a bootcamp in a matter of weeks vs years, to learn a more hands on approach and to gain a better ROI is highly appealing. In the "silicon wadi" of Israel, the high tech nation is being taken over by Elevation Academy’s 12 week bootcamp. London’s own Maker’s Academy is schooling coders in Europe and Coding Dojo’s 14 week course is Silicon Valley’s leading bootcamp.

With developers graduating from coding courses every day, it’s exciting to see what the future will look like in terms of game development.

Photo Credit: Phoenixns/Shutterstock

Born and raised in Texas, Kira has settled in Tel Aviv. A chocoholic, outdoor enthusiast and tech junkie, Kira loves writing. You will often find her outdoors with a good book in hand.