How gaming has changed since the turn of the millennium

Technological advances have transformed the gaming landscape since the early 2000s. Device developments and changes in gaming habits have turned a niche hobby into an increasingly popular pastime that’s easy to integrate into your daily routine. Discover the major advancements of the last two decades that have revolutionised gaming since the turn of the millennium, creating an economic powerhouse growing in the UK and worldwide.

Easier communal play
20 years ago, multiplayer gaming was generally limited to in-person sessions of traditional board games or video games played via split-screen setups with separate controllers. However, the advent of the internet spurned online gaming, revolutionising communal play.

Via Wi-Fi-enabled devices, friends and strangers across the globe can connect to the same game and enjoy shared experiences regardless of location and time zone, with no need for laborious physical set-ups. This includes shared quests and challenges and solo activities like bingo where social interaction during the game significantly enhances play. Multiplayer gaming becoming more widely accessible triggered a rise in the popularity of online gaming as a social pastime, particularly among younger generations.

Portable gaming
Gaming has also moved beyond the home thanks to the rise of portable gaming devices. Easily slipped into a bag or pocket, these devices enable players to game on the go or play together without crowding around one screen or arguing over controllers. Many portable gaming devices have hybrid functionalities and can connect to TVs for an enhanced experience when indoors.

While specialised portable devices paved the way, the development of the smartphone has seen mobile gaming take the world by storm.

A vast range of gaming Apps are available to download and can operate on phone data when Wi-Fi is unavailable for uninterrupted play time. These games are typically shorter and simpler than video games, designed as bitesize entertainment. This convenience is causing growth in casual gaming that’s set to continue, with people previously indifferent dipping in and out during the day at times suited to their schedule.

New communities
A flurry of dedicated online communities has emerged with more people turning to gaming as a pastime. Through these platforms, people can discuss various related topics from tips and tactics and new characters to the music and graphics and similar games to try. Even if your friends don’t play your favourite games, these platforms provide a place for you to nurture your passions and share insights with like-minded individuals.

Thanks to the invention of live-streaming, you can also watch professional-standard players in tournaments worldwide or share your struggles and proud moments of your gameplay. Group chat features allow you to comment on the games as they’re unfolding with friends and family or strangers alike.

Immersive experiences
Recent technological advances have driven increasingly immersive gaming experiences. On a basic level, graphics are getting ever more lifelike and a trend for rich storytelling pulls you into game narratives from the start. At the other end of the spectrum, virtual reality systems such as headsets with high-resolution photorealistic visuals, motion sensors and vibrating controllers place you within the game, so you feel like you’re at the heart of the action.

Innovations in artificial intelligence mean that virtual reality capabilities are expected to skyrocket in the next decade.

Many games also use augmented reality, superimposing computer-generated images into a user’s real-world view. This is common in location-based games where you can find characters in various places around the globe and must travel to take on quests.