Technology has always been the very essence of gaming. We might take gaming as a given today, but it wouldn’t even be possible without the last 50 years of breakthroughs in computing technology. Even 20 years ago, gaming was primitive and most of us would have been blown away by the technology driving our games now.

But it would be a mistake to think that we’ve now reached the pinnacle of technological evolution in gaming. In fact, the future of gaming depends on ongoing technological renewal. Would you have been happy playing DOS games from the 90s for the last 20 years? It’s always good to revisit the classics, but it’s the excitement of new discoveries and experiences that keeps us following gaming studios for new titles. Pushing the boundaries of technology plays a big role in making that happen.

So what’s next for gaming? Where does the technology go from here?

AR VR

Augmented and virtual reality are the two biggest buzzwords to be familiar with as gaming moves into the future. With products like the Oculus Rift now accessible to a wide audience of gamers, virtual reality has taken its first steps to establishing itself in the gaming industry while augmented reality is a relatively common feature, even on smartphone apps.

Even as these exciting technologies become more easily accessible, they are still in their infancy. That means we’ve barely scraped the surface of their capabilities and both are going to improve dramatically over the coming years.

Surrounded by technology

But not the gaming technologies of the future will have such a direct effect on games themselves. Gaming is surrounded by all types of technologies we don’t usually think about while getting kill streaks in Call of Duty. It’s not all graphics and visuals. What will the screens of the future be like? What will consoles be capable of? Could quantum computing eventually impact the kinds of games we play? Will faster internet connections and other innovations online enhance multiplayer play?

These technologies are all evolving simultaneously and a booming gaming market means that there’s plenty of room for new ideas to emerge and get their chance to win us over.

BUFF

One such technology is blockchain. BUFF is using blockchain to change gaming from behind the scenes by rewarding gamers just for playing as they already do. Ever wondered what it would be like if someone tried to gamify gaming? Well, BUFF has you covered. With BUFF installed, you accrue BUFF coins by winning matches, leveling up or just spending time playing. The coins you earn can be exchanged for cash or spent on virtual items across gaming platforms.

This model rewards gamers for doing what they love to do most and creates a new revenue stream for game publishers. The implications for the industry as a whole are significant. BUFF may not upgrade your sensory experience playing a game, but it’s the perfect example of future technology changing the landscape of gaming.

All of these are just some of the possibilities that await us in the future of gaming. Who knows what some genius will come up within the next 5, 10 or 20 years? If we’ve come so far in the last 20, who can say how far we’ll go in the next 20? What technology do you think awaits us in the future of gaming?