The global gaming market has seen substantial growth in recent years, especially during the pandemic. Its growth report is forecasted to keep going, with predictions that it could be worth $321 billion by 2026. But what is the secret behind this upward trend and how did we get here in the first place?
Gaming takes many forms, from consoles and PCs to mobile apps and online sites. Whichever one is your platform of choice; it is undeniable that gaming has evolved significantly over the past decades to become what we know it today.
A Brief History of Gaming
Humanity has been gaming for thousands of years. We’ve found ancient remnants of card and board games stemming as far back as the Egyptians and the Romans. The history of video games, however, starts much sooner in the 1950s and 1960s, with early versions of simulated games such as Moon Landing and Spacewar! hitting our screens.
Then came the dawn of the home console that featured joysticks and interchangeable game cartridges that played multi-coloured games. This led to the release of iconic arcade games that have paved the way for our gaming experience today, including Space Invaders and Donkey Kong.
How has Gaming Evolved
Since then, gaming has evolved to become more sophisticated. Now games span across multiple platforms and offer more immersive features such as multiplayer and in-game chat functions. Home gaming has boomed and led rise to the development of a gaming community.
From the days of arcade games and pixelated aliens to refined graphics and improved accessibility, gaming has expanded to cater to a growing demographic of gamers. This can be traced to advancing technology and new generations.
Gaming consoles and hand-held devices became the most popular platforms and ushered in a new era of high-definition gaming. Gaming organisation such as Nintendo and Sony met considerable success with products such as the Wii and PlayStation 3 as they launched extensive titles alongside releases. This was to attract new players to their ecosystem.
Gaming Today
Mobile and app gaming has always been in the background quietly ascending before making a real statement with the release of the original iPhone. Now classic games like online bingo can be enjoyed anywhere by anyone, offering far better accessibility and convenience than land-based games.
Now, mobile gaming makes up a large portion of the gaming market and is expected to be worth billions. Particular stand-out games that have a special place in our hearts include Candy Crush Saga, Flappy Bird and Subway Surfers.
That’s not even mentioning the online betting and gambling community. Once this was only accessible at betting shops and casinos, now enthusiasts can place bets and play games from anywhere in the country.
