Do you remember when computer gaming involved plugging a console into your television, jamming a giant disc into a machine the size of a fridge, or even loading a cassette tape into your computer? If so, you are probably still a bit shocked at how easy and quick it is to indulge in a game of almost anything you can imagine – you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your sofa to play slot games, shoot ’em ups, racing games and thousands more.
The speed with which technology has evolved has completely transformed the world of video gaming. What was once a fairly niche activity has become one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world over just a few short decades.
Because the gaming industry is so quick to adopt new technology, there has been a huge increase in the variety of hardware and software coming to market. From content that you can instantly download and enjoy anywhere in the world, to devices that are capable of doing things that were science fiction until really recently, there is plenty to look forward to in 2025.
Handheld Gaming
One of the things set to be big this year is handheld PC gaming, as it combines some of the best games around with more user-friendly controls that feel much more natural than traditional gaming rigs. When the Steam Deck was launched in 2022, it filled a gap in the market that not many other providers had identified.
Gamers loved the opportunity to play their favourite PC games with a set-up that was not only portable but had all the gaming appeal of a console. The success of the Steam Deck shook up the gaming market and showcased the potential for other providers to offer their own handheld devices.
It looks as though several providers will be releasing handheld gaming PCs in the coming year and it’s already set to be one of the hot topics at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this year. Given the success of gaming laptops and the growing market for gaming phones, the market for handheld gaming PCs could dwarf both by the speed with which they are being developed.
Valve reportedly has no plans to release a new Steam Deck until there is a significnat technological leap that will justify an upgrade. However, the latest news from gaming tech experts AMD is that they have developed a successor to their Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and it has been designed specifically for the handheld gaming PC market.
If AMD have created a chip that represents the kind of technological leap that Valve has been waiting for, then 2025 could bring news of a Steam DEck upgrade project in the pipeline.
Player-Driven Gaming
The gaming industry has always excelled when it comes to seeking feedback from their target market. The games themselves generate a lot of player data, and many games allow players to get in touch with the developers directly to address bugs and identify issues.
This feedback loop has contributed to the huge growth of the gaming market over recent years as players and developers work together to create games that work well and are enjoyable. This process has now been super-charged by the addition of artificial intelligence into the gaming mix.
Machine learning isn’t just a way to problem solve or make recommendations. Artificial intelligence can be used to create entire virtual worlds based on the way a player engages with the game.
Adaptive Content
Adaptive content has already proved to be a popular feature in games such as No Man’s Sky and the Halo series, and as the technology improves, so does its in-game use. Storyline driven games can be more complex and offer a more realistic in-game experience using AI to tweak the details of a plot to suit the player’s gaming choices.
While players appreciate the personalised experience they have while playing the game, artificial intelligence is also benefitting them behind the scenes. In order to deliver high quality games within tight deadlines, games studios are using AI to generate standardised content such as likenesses of sporting characters that need to be released in the appropriate season.
The increasing availability of AI tools for creating games could also have a significant impact on the availability of independent games from smaller studios. By using AI to create elements of the game, developers are able to keep costs down which means games that might otherwise never have made it to release could be financially viable.
From massive games studios to small independents that may not even exist yet, there are so many exciting opportunities in the gaming market that it’s bound to be another year of fun and innovation.
