At this point, it is undeniable that technology is a big driving force in the Australian online game market. Basically everything you can think of as entertainment has a strong element of technology. Is it mobile, consoles or PCs? Everything is still heavily integrated with technology.
And you start to wonder how this has happened in the online game market. It’s the same for video games, mobile games, live services and even casino-style digital entertainment. So, how has this happened? And how is technology changing how Australians play, pay and stay safe online? You’ll get answers as you read on.
The Market is Bigger Because Gaming is More Accessible
First, we must establish that gaming in Australia is a very big market. The 2024 Australian video game consumer sales result released by the IGEA stated that we Australians spent AUD$3.8 billion on video games and related hardwares. So, despite the economic conditions globally, the gaming market is still seeing significant progress and increment. This is because it is generally more accessible.
By “accessible,” we mean that it has cheaper entry barriers. For starters, you don’t even need to have an expensive setup. With just a phone and an active internet connection, you can access an online casino and most other digital entertainment platforms.
Moreover, games are now designed with mobile priority, so they run well on phones. Not to mention, the always-on connectivity favours quick sessions. The whole design around games just naturally favours accessibility, and it’s all thanks to the impact of technology.
Mobile-First Design is Now the Default
Game developers are now more conscious of mobile designs than ever. It just makes so much sense for them to do so because it is what is in demand. It favours short sessions, better touch controls, push notifications to always catch all events and quick sign-ins, so it is intuitive.
Likewise, the advancement of technology has made mobile gaming go to another level with:
- Lighter installs and faster loading times
- Adaptive UI for different screens
- Better performance on mid-range phones
Faster Payments and Smoother Checkout are Shaping Game Platforms
In 2018, we saw a new beginning for payments in Australia. The government launched an open access infrastructure to promote faster payments within the country and it has worked out ever since then. With more gaming platforms adopting this model, it only gets better from here.
Now, payments on game platforms are as frictionless as possible, giving a more “tap-and-go” approach. We can also say the same for purchase checkouts that have set the pace for speed and clarity. In such cases, players are more inclined to follow through with in-app purchases and checkouts since it isn’t taking much of their time.
So, in the development phase, operators are very conscious of the UX patterns. They ascertain fast load times, simple menus and familiar payment flows, and a good example of such platforms is online casinos. Take Dolly Casino for instance; the menus are simple, pages load fast, and it supports local Aussie payment methods. It is a perfect example of the message we are trying to pass across.
Cloud and Streaming Tech are Changing What “Playing Online” Means
Playing online used to be more about having a very powerful gaming setup to handle the heavy lifting of online play. However, that is now a thing of the past.
With cloud technology and game streaming, you don’t need to have anything out of the ordinary to have AAA games.The companies have the hardware on your behalf, so all you need to do is purchase the game or subscribe to the service and have a stable internet.
Besides the elimination of the need for complex gaming setups, here are some other ways cloud and streaming tech are making things better:
- Faster updates from the servers: Updates from the cloud tend to come faster because some server providers partner directly with gaming companies.
- Cross-device continuity: In this case, you’re not downloading most of your saves and game data locally; they are usually saved to the cloud. Hence, you can always continue your progress from the cloud across multiple devices.
- Fewer storage headaches: The huge parts of the game isn’t on your local storage, so no need to free up gigabytes of space to play. As such, you have very minimal storage headaches.
Smarter Game Systems: AI-Driven Matchmaking, Anti-Cheat and Personalization
It is impossible to ignore the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the gaming industry. For starters, the systems are smarters, so you’re matched with more opponents on your skill level. As such, matches are fairer and pacing is better.
With AI, games are now adapting a better Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment (DDA) system where it adjusts in real-time according to your skill level. You’ll also find that in-game tutorials are smarter and unnecessary prompts don’t appear because the game judges that you’ll do fine without them. All these are unconsciously promoting a better gaming experience among players.
More importantly, game stores are more personalized based on what you play regularly. That is why recommendations are cleaner and the chances of you finding more titles you love are higher. So, technology is not only helping while playing, but even before you pick a title.
About The Author
