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While gaming and the metaverse are often seen as two different spheres, it’s impossible to deny the connections between the two when looking at predictions for the year ahead.
The metaverse has taken on gaming’s immersive 3D worlds and economics, paving the way for a collection of connected digital experiences and the convergence of physical and virtual realities.
Conversely, many online games are starting to organically become more like the conceptual metaverse with open online worlds that allow for creative building and social connection. Popular platforms like Roblox and The Sandbox blur the lines between the two terms.
So, what will 2024 bring for gaming and the metaverse? Here are my predictions:
In 2024, the metaverse is expected to prioritize and evolve its social layers, enabling deeper and more meaningful interactions among users. This could involve features like improved avatars, enhanced communication tools to add features such as 360 immersive/spatial audio, and more collaborative spaces designed to foster connections and community building – as we see in the ever-growing spaces for corporate metaverse experiences such as Virtway.
More games are likely to incorporate built-in live streaming functionalities and spectator modes, to compete with companies like Twitch, we see this with the recent launch of Noice. I foresee allowing players to easily broadcast their gameplay and enabling others to watch and interact in real-time, within game.
The metaverse is likely to see an increase in interactive and shared experiences, such as live events, virtual concerts, interactive workshops, and collaborative gaming experiences. These events will focus on engaging users in real-time, allowing for participation and socialization within the virtual space.
Games might extend social integration beyond gameplay, integrating features that allow players to share their gaming experiences, achievements, and highlights directly to social media platforms or perhaps the creation of a social platform or challenger platform to those that exist.
A stronger emphasis on user-generated content would empower users to create, share, and collaborate on content within the virtual environment. This might include tools for creating art, designing virtual spaces, or developing interactive experiences, fostering creativity and engagement. The success of Roblox, Fortnite and Sandbox truly emphasises this, such as the Sandbox GameMaker.
There could be advancements in creating seamless connections and interactions between different virtual worlds or platforms within the metaverse. Improved interoperability might enable users to move between various environments while maintaining social connections, enhancing the overall social fabric of the metaverse.
Cross platform will become more than just playing with different players across different platforms such as Xbox. PlayStation and mobile but allow your characters or avatars to jump into other places within the metaverse space as well. Gaming and metaverse are already so intertwined, and I see a future where big titles will be more intertwined.
As you look to enhance the user experience across the ever-evolving landscape of gaming and the metaverse, one thing remains clear: social connection and interaction will remain a key element for user engagement. Check out Agora’s solutions adding voice and video communication and streaming to gaming and the metaverse.
