The Biggest Technologies Shaping Gaming Right Now

Video games and technology have always gone hand-in-hand. From the rudimentary pixelated battles of 1962’s Spacewar! to the sprawling open worlds of today, each leap in processing power, graphics capabilities, and online connectivity has propelled the gaming experience forward.

In this ever-evolving landscape, there are a few key technologies that are currently shaping the future of gaming more than any others.

Random Number Generators

Online Games and card rooms have been popular for over two decades now, but several pieces of technology had to come together to make them possible. Firstly, the widespread adoption of personal computers in the late 1990s and the explosive growth of the internet around the same time meant that these iGaming platforms suddenly had a huge market to tap into.

Online card rooms have come a long way since then. Leading platforms like PokerStars that had their start around the time of the online poker room have gone from strength to strength by expanding their offering. In addition to popular variants like Texas Hold’em poker, which is a community game offering a strategic challenge to people, card rooms offer other options, including less-well-known varieties like Courchevel, HORSE, Fusion, and Badugi.

But getting to this point required technological advancements and it wasn’t just the players that needed to upgrade their tech; some work had to go on behind the scenes, too. This was because playing games like poker requires cards to be shuffled in an entirely random and unpredictable way. Without this, eagle-eyed players could easily spot patterns in the sequencing of the cards and use it to gain an advantage.

But online, there is no dealer to shuffle cards and computers are very bad at creating the true randomness required for card games. That’s where a piece of technology called the random number generator (RNG) comes in.

This technology works by capturing randomness from the real world, such as atmospheric static, and using that as input in an algorithm. This means that, while the computer code could be reversed, the random external input can’t be.

RNGs aren’t limited to card games. They are also essential for any video game that relies on randomness, from turn-based strategy games with dice mechanics to loot drops in role-playing games. By ensuring that outcomes are genuinely unpredictable, RNGs foster a sense of fairness and keep gameplay exciting.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality (VR) isn’t strictly a gaming technology, but it’s undeniable that gaming is one of its most compelling applications. VR headsets transport players into digital worlds, creating an unparalleled level of immersion by placing them right in the centre, rather than looking in through the window of a TV, monitor, or smartphone. This means you can explore a sprawling fantasy landscape, face off against hordes of enemies, and hunt for clues like you’re really there, all without leaving your living room.

Popular VR games like Half-Life: Alyx and Beat Saber demonstrate the versatility of the technology. Alyx is a first-person shooter set in the Half-Life universe, where players physically interact with the environment to solve puzzles and fight enemies.

Beat Saber, on the other hand, is a rhythm game where players slash neon blocks to the beat of music, using VR controllers to mimic slicing through the virtual space.

While VR technology is still in its early stages, the potential to create truly immersive and interactive experiences is undeniable. As VR headsets become more affordable and powerful, we can expect to see even more innovative and engaging VR games emerge, further blurring the lines between reality and virtual worlds.

Ray Tracing

Video game developers have always tried to push the boundaries of their content, and ray tracing is the latest technology pushing the envelope of graphical realism. Ray tracing works by simulating how light interacts with objects in the virtual world, producing lighting effects that are far more nuanced and realistic than traditional rendering methods.

While the concept of ray tracing isn’t new, it was only recently that advancements in graphics card technology made it practical for real-time rendering in video games. The results are stunning; games that utilise ray tracing showcase lighting effects with incredible depth and detail, creating environments that are more immersive and believable than ever before.

While not yet ubiquitous, ray tracing is becoming increasingly common in high-end games, with titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Control showcasing its transformative power. As graphics card technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see ray tracing become even more widely adopted, ushering in a new era of visual fidelity for gaming.