Virtual Reality has been transforming many industries including the online gaming industry by the simulation of a real-world environment in a virtual world, enabling gamers with never before imagined immersive and three-dimensional experiences. As the demand for VR-enabled games is increasing rapidly, Virtual Reality in the gaming market across the globe is growing at a rapid pace.
The evolution of Virtual Reality in the online gaming industry has enabled developers to redefine game designing while allowing consumers to engage and interact with characters in the games in a virtual environment. VR is proving to be a game-changer in the online gaming industry, benefiting both developers and consumers alike.
VR is considered to be the next big thing in the gaming industry, taking the gaming experience to the next level. Now let us try to examine the significant impact of VR technology in the online gaming industry.
Enabling immersive gaming experience
Prior to the advent of wearable VR technology, gamers were just confined to sitting in front of the screen and controlling the characters in the game using their hands. Though there existed some gaming techniques such as roller coaster ride booths that offer immersive gaming experience, the experience they provided was limited and not personalized. Moreover, they require a huge area for the operation and an operator to control the entire system.
As Virtual Reality enters the mainstream in online gaming, VR headsets become a new normal in the online gaming industry. These VR-enabled wearable headsets provide gamers with immersive and personalized experiences with a new level of engagement. When a person wears a VR headset, he feels absorbed into the gaming environment. Gamers can view the environment simulated in the virtual world and can move around. Wearable headsets by establishing a connection between the game player and the game, help players physically experience the presence of characters in the game. Players can also virtually interact with objects and characters in the game and take an adventurous journey into a completely new world. This helps payers get involved in the game and play in an engaging manner.
Unlike the conventional video games wherein the perspective is from behind or above the player, VR-enabled games make the players feel as if they are actually seeing directly through their own eyes, like in the case of sports betting games. To be precise, VR technology is providing gamers with the dream-like gaming experience, though they are not dreaming.   Â
Better opportunities for gaming
Online video gaming is one of the fast-growing industries today, with millennials showing great interest in online casino games. Virtual Reality is further fuelling the online casino industry providing game developers with new opportunities to design impressive games. As VR technology has entered homes from the gaming consoles, it has opened new opportunities for game developers. Now, it is relatively easy for developers to come up with novel ideas in game designing.
Capitalizing on the VR technology that provides new means for the game design, several brands have entered the industry to explore opportunities. Since VR technology empowers games to physically feel the presence of characters in the game and interact with them, it is imperative on the part of developers to design and develop VR games in a personal narrative, like the live casino games. Today, game development companies are also considering designing VR games and gaming accessories that are compatible with multiple platforms such as PCs, Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones, etc. Some of the most popular VR accessories for PCs and Laptops include HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Lenovo VR Headset, Lenovo Explorer, etc. Smartphone manufacturers are coming up with their own VR headsets and controllers, such as Samsung Gear VR.  Â
Despite the huge potential to transform the online gaming industry by providing users with better customer experiences, the adoption of VR is relatively lower owing to a lack of affordable gaming accessories. Since VR is still relatively new, designing cost-effective VR accessories is unarguably the biggest challenge being faced by businesses operating in the online gaming industry. Today, VR gaming is not just about simulating the real-time environment in the virtual world, rather businesses should focus on making VR devices affordable to everyone.
Businesses should also consider applying VR to conventional games that are already popular among the masses and the user experience to increase the adoption of Virtual Reality, which ultimately helps to reduce the costs of VR accessories. Hence it is important for businesses to use new rendering techniques and also thinking out of the box in order to provide a seamless user experience.