ASK A VIDEO GAME FUTURIST: WHAT’S NEXT FOR GAMING AND ONLINE PLAY?

Many video game futurists and gaming keynote speakers remain undecided on which direction the field is heading. But a vast majority also have made a boatload of predictions about the future direction and evolution of the field. Having been ranked among the best video game futurists and gaming keynote speakers, what say we throw our hat into the ring as well?

• Fully immersive VR/AR experiences – Games will achieve complete visual, auditory and even tactile immersion in virtual and augmented worlds via advances in headsets, haptics, omnidirectional treadmills etc.
• Photo-realistic graphics – Ray-tracing, nanite geometry and computational power will enable in-game visuals indistinguishable from real life or so a number of video game futurists and gaming keynote speakers say.
• Cloud & streaming ubiquity – Digital diversions will be streamed seamlessly from the cloud across screens with minimal hardware, enabled by 5G and edge computing.
• AI-driven game creation – Machine learning will automate game testing, debugging, asset creation and generate adaptive in-game situations and narratives according to the best video game futurists and gaming keynote speakers.
• Brain-computer interfaces – Players will be able to control gameplay and experience simulations directly through their thoughts and neurological signals.
• MMO metaverse worlds – Massively multiplayer VR worlds will blur the boundaries between games and social networks, creating persistent civilizations.
• Cross-platform ecosystems – Hardware-agnostic game environments connected across all devices and continuous play across locations are also becoming a trending subject with video game futurists.
• Granular in-game economies – Blockchain will enable truly owned and transferable in-game assets, currencies and decentralized marketplaces.
• Lifelike NPCs – Characters driven by natural language processing, neural networks and large data sets of human behavior/dialogue.
• Personalized medicine – Games with biofeedback will enable customized experiences tied to physiology for engagement, health or cognitive benefits.

While we can’t speak for all video game futurists and gaming keynote speakers, general consensus is that exponential technological growth will profoundly alter how games look, feel, operate and are distributed in the decades ahead.