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Following the explosive growth of the global gaming industry during 2020 and 2021, the past twelve months brought more than their fair share of disappointments. Console gamers the world over have battled to get their hands on the latest generation of gaming devices as supply chain issues afflicting the PS5 at the tail end of 2021 spilled over into 2022. Furthermore, a number of the big titles slated for release last year never quite made it to the shelves.
Thankfully, a new year is well and truly here, and 2023 has already spelled a brighter forecast for gaming. 2023 will see over 100 major video games hit the shelves while developments continue in full force throughout the iGaming and mobile sectors.
Let’s dive into the most significant gaming news for 2023.
New Games on Console and PC
First things first, 2023 has already established itself as a prolific year for video games across all major platforms, including Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. A plethora of highly-anticipated titles will be vying for the gaming community’s attention, many of which were originally scheduled for release last year but were postponed due to the various challenges posed by both production delays and the transition to a new generation of consoles.
What’s clear is that this year will also be the one in which next-gen gaming truly flourishes – even if one of the most highly anticipated games of the year is currently limited to a Switch-only release. What, then, are the hottest games hitting the shelves this year? And can any of them topple Hogwarts Legacy from its current best-selling game throne?
Well, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a likely contender, even if it will only be available to play on Nintendo’s Switch. Breath of the Wild is already considered one of the greatest games of the current generation, so Tears of the Kingdom has some pretty big shoes to fill. Anticipation has now reached fever pitch for the game, especially since we’ve only been able to glimpse a few cryptic teasers about what’s in store for Link and the kingdom of Hyrule.
Other AAA releases for the year include Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy 16, Starfield, and Assasin’s Creed Mirage.
Artificial Intelligence and iGaming
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seemingly all anyone in the tech industries can talk about right now. This advanced technology has recently come to the forefront due to its ability to revolutionize just about every sector, from transport to healthcare, finance and more. The current generation of AI is more sophisticated than ever, and it’s finding several new use cases in gaming, particularly in the realm of iGaming.
iGaming is a blossoming digital gaming sector that has enjoyed recent expansion across the US. Consequently, a huge percentage of the world’s population is enjoying online versions of casino classics, including roulette, making full use of the variants and features on leading platforms like PokerStars Casino. With so many people playing real money games, naturally, player security is paramount to such operators.
This is where the integration of AI can be particularly beneficial. AI software can be programmed to accomplish a number of cybersecurity and player protection tasks. For instance, it has the capability to detect and even prevent activities when a player’s account has been breached. At the same time, it can also play a key role in ensuring a platform maintains its responsible gaming commitments by tracking player behaviors, such as spending habits and playing frequency.
Then, of course, there’s the personalization aspect of AI integration. Most online casino customers already have experience using “always-on” chatbots to solve basic queries, but operators can take customer service to the next level by customizing every aspect of the player journey. From user-specific dashboards that show bespoke bonuses and promotions to gameplay analysis, AI can greatly enhance the gaming experience.
New Moves in Mobile
For the fifth consecutive year, mobile gaming once again proved its dominance in 2022 by outperforming both the PC and console markets. According to Newzoo, the sector generated $92.2 billion in revenues, accounting for 50% of the global gaming industry. With forecasted revenues of around $211 billion by 2025, the mobile gaming industry shows no signs of slowing down.
In 2023, it’s the turn of Big Tech companies to commit to the mobile space. Major video game development studios like Electronic Arts and Ubisoft are growing their mobile output, in some cases reworking prime gaming IP as mobile releases. Of course, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is a clear sign of the prominence of mobile gaming to the entertainment giant; while not content to be left on the sidelines, Sony is also making good on its commitment to mobile game development.
