Trends come and go, but that’s even more true in gaming. While there are always games that have a seemingly never-ending top spot in the popularity contest, there’s always some gaming innovation on the shelves or coming soon that millions of players get excited about.

While the latest iPhone or Samsung Galaxy release may result in long lines and backstock orders, the hype behind upcoming games, gadgets, and gear runs a very close second. In fact, according to Statista, the revenue for gaming worldwide was almost $347 billion in 2022 and “is expected to grow at an annual rate of 9.32% between 2023 and 2028.”

That’s a lot of gamers.

With that much money on the line, there are a lot of trends to keep an eye on for 2024. Whether you’re a professional eSports gamer or just like to have the latest tech, we’ve got the goods to help you stay at the top of your game.

AI

You’d have to be living under a rock to have missed the hype around AI in art, music, various business industries, and writing, but it’s also making a lot of headway in gaming. Non-player characters (NPCs) will be able to learn on their own and change how they behave accordingly, making your games a lot more unpredictable. Imagine grabbing those flight sim controls and firing up Ace Combat and finding that those dog fights are a lot more challenging. Or even better, NPCs on Grand Theft Auto will rob you once. Companies like Apex Game Tools and Blizzard Entertainment are currently working on more games with AI, and experts think this trend is going to keep growing.

eSports

Projected to reach $4.3bn in 2024, the worldwide eSports market is expected to show an “annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2028) of 7.10%.” Whether it’s gaming in Chicago or Milan, competition is fierce and all but certain to continue to grow in popularity.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

This is another one of those hypes that was hard to miss in 2023. Think of NFTs as digital collector’s items, similar to a rare trading card or a unique piece of artwork. Each NFT is one-of-a-kind and can’t be broken down into smaller parts. This makes NFTs perfect for turning any digital thing into a unique item.

Because of these features, NFTs are becoming a big deal in video games too. For instance, you can use NFTs to create unique characters or trading cards in games. Remember the craze for CryptoKitties, the game where you could collect and breed digital cats? That was the first game using NFTs, launched back in November 2017, and now loads of games are doing the same thing.

Oldies Getting Better

These two have been around for a while, but they’ve improved quite considerably.

• Gaming projectors: there is a lot on the market, and these days, they have resolutions comparable to some top monitors. Grab the XGIMI Halo+ 1080P Portable Projector, and you’ll be at the top of the class.
• VR (virtual reality) will continue to rank highly on gamer’s wish lists, so don’t be surprised when you see some new contenders knocking Apple and Meta down a few pegs. If you want to be the envy of your gaming crew, get your hands on the Valve Index VR Full Kit.

In the fast-paced world of gaming, staying ahead of trends is paramount to enhancing your experience and keeping your competitive edge. From evolving AI technology to the incorporation of NFTs and the resurgence of improved oldies, the gaming landscape of 2024 promises a blend of innovation, immersion, and excitement.