With the entire world on hold, people have found new ways to entertain themselves and pass the time. Many businesses shut down, while others thrived, especially the video game industry. New releases, consoles, streaming services are all in high demand, and game developers love it.

Companies like Riot Games, best known for the iconic game League of Legends, are doubling down and hiring like crazy, while Microsoft (News - Alert)’s Xbox has never seen higher sales.

But why have video games taken over the entertainment industry in recent years? We’ll try to answer the question below, so read on.

Hi-Tech Solutions Used to Create Games

Most people get instantly hooked when trying out a new video game. However, others find it hard to understand why this happens. One of the reasons is that video game creators use cutting-edge solutions to create immersive and out-of-the-world experiences.

Take, for example, the open-world games. These go into insane detail to create a fun space for players to just run aimlessly without a clear mission or challenge.

If you look into titles like Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and even Super Mario, you’ll notice that they all have mesmerizing graphics that keep you hooked for hours. 

Variety to Fit All Tastes

Depending on your preferences, you’ll have access to dozens of enthralling video games. Recently, we’ve seen a surge in game types that allow players to filter out the options and find the ones that meet their needs.

For instance, you can choose between PC, console, or cloud-based games. Other popular categories you can base your search on include:

• Sandbox games
• Action
• Survival and horror
• Shooters (FPS and TPS)
• Real-time strategy (RTS)
• Role-playing (RPG, ARPG, etc.)
• Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA)
• Simulation, sports, casino games, etc.

Some professional and casual players use this to their advantage and try out various game types. For instance, we’ve seen a rising number of gamers taking a different route and trying their hand at popular casino platforms, like playersonly.ag.

Video Games Are Now Easily Accessible

Historically, people had needed expensive consoles, strong gaming computers, and additional equipment to play their preferred games. This might still be true for dedicated and professional gamers, but occasional players have other options.

One of those is cloud gaming. This form of gaming has been trending for a while, making it easily accessible to all crowds. Cloud-based games bypass all problems that come with buying games online:

• You don’t waste time downloading a game.
• Investing in a stronger computer to access games is unnecessary.
• Huge PC or console space for game installation is not needed.

The cloud solution allows you to stream the chosen game in real-time. Even some professional players follow this trend as it gives them the freedom to explore gaming options without investing too much time and money. 

Video Games Simulate New and Different Experiences

This might be the most obvious reason why people enjoy playing games. It allows us to take on a whole new role, explore fictional worlds, and engage in situations we could never imagine.

Situated in an awe-inspiring setting packed with monsters, superheroes, and mythical creatures, video games take us to a different realm that allows us to explore something entirely new. Although many call it an escape from reality, we think playing video games gives us a well-deserved break and a chance to relax.

Next-Gen Consoles Dominate the Field

We already mentioned cloud-based gaming as a major trend. However, consoles are nowhere near being replaced. Given the low supply and high demand for gaming consoles, companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo compete to win over customers.

Most recently, Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have taken the world by storm. When combined, the two leading consoles have earned over $5 billion globally.

With special features, the consoles offer a fantastic experience, but it’s up to you to decide which one to go for.

For example, Xbox Series X comes with a Smart Delivery feature that provides an updated version of any Xbox One game you bought in the past. On the other hand, PlayStation 5 has a high-end SSD which significantly reduces load time. 

Although hundreds of factors influence video game popularity, we believe these are among the most important ones. People are looking for a fun and engaging way to spend their free time, and the newest video games give them what they need.