The digital world keeps getting bigger and bigger, and there seems to be no stopping it. We can cite many industries which are thriving thanks to the availability and popularity of the online platform. Take the world of e-commerce, entertainment, and even the gaming industry, for instance. If we look at online casino games as an example, recent stats point to an already-booming industry, with an expectant value of over $130 billion to be reached by 2027. So it’s unsurprising that some of the best mobile casinos online have been gaining traction over the past few years. Players certainly can enjoy this luxury of choice, not only because of the massive selection of game categories, but with continuous technological advancements and cross-platform gaming, the future of gaming is expected to be a promising one!
Cross-platform gaming is a big one and we’re dedicating this article to it. Let’s dive right into what it’s all about and the implications that come with it.
What Is Cross-Platform Gaming Exactly?
When a game is said to support cross-platform play, it means that the user can play it across different gaming platforms without the player needing to change any particular settings or do any extra work. This functionality allows different devices to interact, thus bridging the gap between different operating systems.
When we speak of cross-play, we mean that players from different platforms and consoles would be able to access the game online on any forum to play together online in multiplayer mode, in the cloud.
What Are The Main Concepts Related To Cross-Platform Gaming?
As with any other form of advancement, cross-platform gaming has a set of underlying concepts which define the way that games are developed and marketed. The main ones include:
More Inclusivity As A Way Of Standing Together
The very idea of cross-platform gaming is a step away from exclusivity, where a company’s games can only be played on its own consoles. Instead, we are now moving towards a more inclusive interface. In fact, recent findings are showing that the vast majority of players prefer multiplayer games to their single-player counterparts.
Consolidating The Metaverse
With its use of VR and AR, cross-platform gaming is progressively bringing the metaverse to the fore. Thus, the more time we spend in this virtual reality, the more we’d be utilizing and consolidating the metaverse, further rendering it an actual space by maximizing its full potential. Thanks to cross-platform and cross-play gaming, we are witnessing that playing with others and being online in the metaverse to do so, is becoming a necessity in modern gaming.
Maximizing The Popularity of The Online Interface
There’s no denying that the digital interface has picked up steam, and cross-platform gaming is a way of maximizing this popularity and enhancing the experience for gamers all over the world. Being restricted to an online platform does not come without its setbacks, especially from a technical point of view. For instance, you won’t be able to enjoy a game in its entirety if you don’t have sufficient internet strength and data. We’ll elaborate further on the challenges to cross-platform gaming in the very next section.
What Has Held Back Cross-Platform Gaming All These Years?
I mean, why are games still slowly adopting cross-platform support when this should have been the norm for years? Fair point; however, despite the convenience and thrill it offers, there are a number of challenges that come with it. Here are just a few:
- Technical setbacks: It can be a technical challenge to run games smoothly on different devices and operating systems.
- Network compatibility: Since a stable and fast network connection is not available in all regions, supporting cross-platform play may be even more of a challenge.
- Managing grievances: Since with cross-platform gaming there’s bound to be imbalanced gameplay (e.g PC users tend to have an advantage over console players since they can use a mouse and a keyboard) there might be disputes in games which might be difficult to manage and resolve.
- Security concerns: Players may have an issue with linking their accounts across different platforms.
Despite all the challenges that come with it, cross-platform gaming is set to continue shaping the future of gaming. Playing against an actual opponent, connecting with people from all over the world, and being able to get real-time feedback on your performance are just a few perks that come with cross-playing. Playing in multiplayer mode will not only bring people together but it will also help sustain the longevity and relevance of online games.
