IoT, or the Internet of Things, is evolving as a prominent pillar in restructuring the gaming industry. The global market value of this technology is projected to reach the mark of $1693.30 billion by 2030. _ Grand View Research Report
Released in 2016, Pokemon Go gained immense love from gaming freaks worldwide regardless of whether millennials or Gen Z. After a slump in 2017, it started growing every year in popularity, has over 150 million monthly active users and was downloaded 500 million times. A vivid example of IoT-enabled next-level gaming mobility, Pokemon Go became a sensation because it was the first augmented reality game app blended with IoT elements (GPS tracking) that tremendously shook the entire gaming industry.
The realm of the gaming industry has witnessed massive technological developments in the past few years. From the era of traditional video games and 2D games to AR/VR gaming, some unimagined technologies have been integrated into the games that no one thought. Internet of Things (IoT) – an advanced technology is taking the formidable gaming industry by storm. The Internet of Things does as it says in the name – it creates an internet (network) of connected physical devices (things) – all working together to accomplish the same task, for instance, PubG game. The most hyped game, PubG, relies on IoT infrastructure and protocols to facilitate communication between players and servers in a large-scale multiplayer arena, anti-cheat measures by continuously monitoring players’ actions, and real-time adjustments to help maintain a seamless game experience. Such advanced IoT features made PubG geeks smitten with the game.
IoT in the gaming industry has transformed gaming into a “social activity” that can be performed with family and friends in leisure time. Certainly, the advent of technological advancement in video game development has brought a paradigm shift in this industry, leading to global user spending in mobile gaming reaching the mark of $130 million (expected) by 2025, as per Statista, 2023. As the gaming industry is flooded with IoT technologies, these advanced technologies have captured the hearts of millions of gaming lovers. IoT has offered the gaming sector a lot; let’s read how this state-of-the-art technology has played a significant role in enhancing users’ experience.
Immersive Experience
Gone are the days when users would stick to traditional video games; today, IoT-based games are captivating game lovers tremendously. By integrating the advantage of a real-world environment with the devices and connecting the elements to create a realistic gaming experience. Take the example of Zombies, Run!, where the game offers an immersive fitness experience by integrating storytelling and audio-based gameplay. It means players go on virtual missions while jogging in the real world, and the sound effects create an engaging zombie apocalypse experience.
Enhanced Security Measures
It is quite clear that the gaming industry is vulnerable, especially where real-prize money is involved. Thanks to IoT, which enables developers to enhance security measures while developing games to protect users’ data against cyber threats. Two-factor authentication implemented in the game offers an extra layer of protection for users, as used in PubG, anti-cheat measures. As the craze for IoT-based games among gaming lovers is increasing, it is also adding an extra layer of security for them to protect their data from hackers.
Real-time Data Collection
As the competition is getting tough in the gaming industry, IoT has emerged as a boon for professional players as it offers them real-time data and performance analytics. This can happen by tracking in-game performance, like reaction time and accuracy, identifying issues, and enhancing the overall gaming experience. This enables users to improve their performance and work on them accordingly. The IoT-powered devices and games allow users to engage with their games in multiple ways and compare their performance with other games across the world.
The video gaming industry is constantly evolving with rapid technological advancements. Consequently, massive revenue and a strong user base continue to be generated with the emergence of IoT in the gaming industry. As per Statista Data, the global gaming industry is worth around $6.26 billion, and it is projected that the industry will grow with a CAGR of approximately 31.4 between 2021 and 2028. Certainly, this cutting-edge technology is astonishingly transforming the gaming experience of users while helping developers earn high revenue by introducing such advanced games to the world.