How 5G Internet Will Enhance the Video Gaming Industry
by
Published on September 16th, 2019 17:59
After years of murmurings and speculation, 5G internet is finally upon us. Whilst the signal strength, speed and availability is largely dependent on your location, the majority of UK users should be able to access 5G pretty readily by the end of the year.
In essence, 5G is a supercharged version of the 4G internet most of us currently enjoy on our mobile devices. Users will benefit from lower latency, faster download speeds and more stable connections, all of which will lend themselves to a better gaming experience. But what does the advent of 5G mean for gaming as a whole?
Reaching For The... Clouds?
As innovative a concept as cloud gaming is, it needs a quick and stable connection in order to fulfil its full potential. Although PlayStation Now hasn't been the rip-roaring success that it promised to be, it has done a decent job in introducing the concept of cloud gaming to the general public. With projects such as Google Stadia set to launch at the end of the year, the timing couldn't be better, and 5G could well be the platform which allows Cloud gaming to reach new heights. It also won't hurt that Cyberpunk 2077 has recently been confirmed for Stadia - this will only further the growing interest in the technology and by this time next year, cloud gaming may have already taken its place at the top table.
The Impact on the Online Gambling Market
As the online casino industry evolves, the need for more powerful technology increases. With most online casino platforms now offering live casino and immersive experiences, those with slow internet connections are somewhat disadvantaged. However, 5G will allow players to experience live streaming on the go and will also help those who play online slots too. As those who play Gemix slot and other similar games can attest to, modern online slot games are awash with various different bonuses and features, as well as HD graphics and high-quality sound. From a mobile gaming standpoint, those with faster internet speeds will have no problems enjoying these extra features on their mobile device. In addition to this, the advent of 5G will also allow developers to add more to their games in the coming years.
Competitive Gaming and eSports
The European eSports market is worth a whopping €240 million (£212 million) thanks to games such as Fortnite and PUGB. Those who play battle royale games will already be well aware of the importance of internet speeds. To this end, companies in China are already exploring the capabilities of 5G technology and assessing how it can benefit eSports moving forward. With the renaissance of PUBG and Fortnite on Android platforms, it's not difficult to see how faster internet will benefit players who prefer to do their gaming from their mobile device.
The Future of 5G
At the speed with which technology advances and evolves, it's difficult to predict the future. Many 5G sceptics will simply cite virtual reality technology as an example of something which has failed to deliver on its many promises. When all is said and done, isn't 5G just a slightly faster version of 4G? Can it really change the gaming landscape as much as it promises to do so on paper? The truth is that no-one really knows. However, if we revisit the topic again in a year's time, we may just have the answers.