Gaming market in this pandemic have thrived beyond imagination. According to a record, 90 percent of the young generation is involved in gaming and 40 percent of the adults and old generation are gamers. So we have a news for you. Augmented reality glass have crept into the gaming market. So what do you think, will this disrupt the gaming market? Let’s see it’s consequences!!
What is AR?
Augmented reality is an interactive experience of a real-world environment where the objects that reside in the real world are enhanced by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory receptors. In terms of gaming AR gives real life experience. It can be closely related to virtual reality. AR can be defined as a system that fulfils three basic features: a combination of real and virtual worlds, real-time interaction, and accurate 3D registration of virtual and real objects. The main purpose of AR is to blend the digital world with the real world perceptions of the gamer. Augmented reality is used to enhance natural environments or situations and offer perceptually enriched experiences.
AR and VR: In VR an user’s perception of reality is completely based on virtual information where as in AR the user is provided with additional computer generated information that enhances their perception of reality. For example in the AR games, Augmented reality layers objects into real world. The game WallaMe is an AR based game application which allows gamers to hide messages in real environments, utilizing geolocation technology in order to enable users to hide messages wherever they may wish in the world. Such technologies includes activism and artistic expression.
Overview: Global Augmented Gaming Reality market is estimated to value over USD 80 billion by 2027 end and register a CAGR of over 28.9% during the forecast period 2020 to 2027. Ivan Sutherland designed the first head-mounted display (HMD) in 1968 which was called The Sword of Damocles. AR Quake was the first AR based game launched in 2000. In this game, players had to not only wear an HMD but also a backpack consisting of a computer and gyroscopes. The first smartphone AR game- AR tennis, a two-player AR game, was launched in the year 2005 which was exclusively developed for Nokia phones. Blippar, in 2014, developed the first AR game for Google Glass which was demonstrated at the Mobile World Congress. According to the recent reports of Blippar, the number of AR users from 37 million in 2017 has increased to 67 million in 2020 increasing profitable opportunities for the global augmented reality gaming market to thrive.
Competitors: AR devices are difficult to set up and the initial investments for acquiring equipment are quite high. These factors might be responsible for disruption of the gaming market or curtailing the market growth. Moreover, VR gaming devices are stiff competitors for this market as these devices are easy to set up and are less expensive then AR devices. The infamous Netflix original TV series, Stranger Things is developing their own AR based game in collaboration with Next Games. They are the makers of a location-based game ‘Our World’ based on the TV show The Walking Dead. Popular story games like Harry Potter can increase the market of AR. They have a huge fan base and people will surely play games related to or based upon these infamous narratives and this shall augment the market growth. Augmented reality Gaming market can be divided into certain segments namely Software and Hardware ( by component), RFID, GPS, Mobile Tracking and Others ( by technology). In device Mobile, Head mounted device and smart glasses. In game type Racing Games, Adventure Games, Fighting Games, Shooting Games, Mystery Thriller Games, Puzzle Games, Science Fiction Games and Others. The major market players in this segment are Sony, Google, Microsoft and Apple.
Future of AR Gaming: Augmented Reality is surely a great budge in the gaming market and in the near future we might all be AR gamers. Not only for hard core gamers but AR will find place in the smart devices of each and every generation in the coming future. This can disrupt the gaming market of the other strategy based or such games. With games like Pokémon GO and Harry Potter Wizards United, the AR gaming on mobile devices shall rise exponentially creating numerous opportunities for game developers to develop interesting AR games. The future smart devices and high end mobile phones will be compatible with the latest augmented reality frameworks thus increasing its market. Microsoft collaborating with Epic Games for integrating Epic’s AR framework on Microsoft’s HoloLens shall increase the market growth significantly. Hence, modern AR games will not require hefty setups like previously required for AR Quake. Even the HMDs will become redundant once these AR eye wears are available at an affordable price in the market. So definitely AR is going to curb down the market of other games.
So Augmented Reality Gaming is an interesting invention in the gaming industry and it shall surely give you Goosebumps. However, it may disrupt the mainstream gaming with its exceptional budges of development. Once augmented reality glass creeps into the market, it’s sure to attract gamers across cities. Stay tuned for more. We will be back soon. Take care and stay safe.