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This year we’re likely to see more people streaming, using cloud gaming, picking up consoles, and mobile might see a resurgence too.
2020 is likely to be an interesting year for the gaming industry, given that the next generation of consoles are just around the corner and a multitude of big releases are set to close off the PS4 and Xbox One nicely.
And, while Google’s Stadia launch went less than smoothly, the service does open up questions about the possibilities of cloud gaming, many of which are likely to be answered this year. Both PlayStation and Microsoft have expressed interest in similar services, and we should expect the next generation of consoles to utilise the technology fully.
So, what’s this year’s gaming landscape going to look like? Here’s our top picks for the most interesting and forward thinking trends we’re probably going to see in 2020, and some may be more surprising than you think.
#6 – Mobile gaming will be more consumer friendly this year
2019 was an intriguing one for mobile gaming, as Apple launched its Arcade service that grants customers access to a library of hundreds of titles for £5 a month; think Xbox’s Game Pass albeit in miniature, mobile form. This new business model has significant potential to shake things up as far as on-the-go gaming is concerned.
Rather than throwing as many microtransactions as possible at consumers, Apple Arcade encourages quality, minimalistic titles that prioritise user experience over milking addicted players for money. I’m hoping that this trend helps us move away from cash cow apps that utilise wait times, an excess of in-game purchases, and exploitative tactics to get you to spend.
The less Mario Kart Tour like games we have on the App Store, the better. 2020 might see more of us adopt Apple’s subscription service – and we may even get a few competitors crop up throughout the year. Here’s to changing the way we monetise mobile games in 2020.
#5 – Console sales may get a substantial boost
Despite PC setups becoming easier and cheaper to put together than ever before, consoles remain a widely popular choice for budget gamers. The PlayStation 4 recently overtook the Wii to become the fourth best selling system of all time, and with the Switch steadily churning along sales wise, consoles are likely to continue to push units.
That’s before you consider that the end of 2020 will see the launch of both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, which are expected to sell in the millions within their first few weeks of availability. 2020 will be a year all about the console experience. If only Sony could hurry up with actually revealing what the PlayStation 5 will look like.
For now, we’ve got the Xbox Series X to muster over, which looks more than a little bit like a fridge.
#4 – Streaming will continue to grow in popularity
At this point, everyone and their grandma knows that streaming yourself playing games is a big business. It made more than a few people extremely wealthy last year, and will continue to grow as an industry throughout 2020. Both Twitch and Mixer are enjoying steady increases in traffic and clicks at the moment, so expect more creators to hop onto the platforms.
Plus, with the rise of eSports tournaments in 2019, streaming has become an excellent tool for professionals to show off their skills or provide tips and tricks to budding enthusiasts. Titles are now often released with customisable options that have streaming in mind, allowing you to turn off copyrighted music during play. So, yeh, streaming is definitely here to stay, and this year will be no exception.
