When people are asked about augmented reality or virtual reality, they always wonder why there is so much hype around these technologies. Those who are clued up on the industry know why it has such an upside, but the average person may have a hard time understanding.
One of the ways that more people will become aware of the potential of AR and VR is through gaming. When you can create virtual reality or augmented reality gaming experiences, people sit up and take notice. There is a reason that VR has become more popular since the release of the Oculus Quest 2, which is an affordable, quality VR headset.
While augmented reality gaming has not experienced such a moment, there are headsets in the pipeline from Apple, Microsoft, and other companies. Below is an explanation of how augmented reality fits into the future of gaming.
Experiencing a New Method of Gaming
When you first put on a virtual reality headset, you may not be sure what you are about to experience. A lot of people assume it is like being inside a video game, but it is not quite that feeling.
The virtual reality experience depends heavily on the quality of the headset you are wearing. A headset like Google Cardboard does not give a great experience, while a PSVR headset or the Oculus Quest 2 is extremely enjoyable to wear and play.
VR games are a whole new genre, as you can interact with games in a way that was not possible using controllers, keyboards, mice, and televisions. Now you can swing your hands in a game, throw punches, play shots, fire guns, and explore new, digital worlds.
Can VR Gaming Become Mainstream?
The question that is on many people’s lips is whether VR gaming can go all the way. Sales are good for the Oculus Quest 2, but there are doubts whether a mainstream audience would want to put on such a large headset to play games.
Another issue with VR is that games are very immersive individually, but they are not great for playing as a group. Unless everyone is sitting down with their VR headsets, you cannot play a game together at a friend’s house. Moreover, even if you had everyone playing on their headset, they would be immersed in the VR world and not talking or interacting with each other.
Is Augmented Reality the Ideal Middle Ground?
Augmented reality is the bridge between gaming as we know it and virtual reality gaming. The latter may not be mainstream for a very long time, while some people are bored of traditional games and the experiences they offer.
The beauty of AR gaming is that you can create a digital layer on top of the real world. Say you have a game like Pokémon Go, where people have to use their smartphones to catch in-game characters. If you had augmented reality glasses, it would be as though you could see those Pokémon characters as you walk down the street!
Another advantage for AR gaming is that mooted headsets are a lot lighter. Most people believe that even slightly thicker eyeglasses would be sufficient for an AR experience, as the glasses would not need significant power or technology to deliver a seamless experience.
What Does the Future Hold for AR Gaming?
There is great potential for augmented reality to become a mainstay in gaming. Imagine a person playing a racing video game, but instead of a controller, they had a virtual racing wheel that they could manipulate to interact with the game on their television?
Thanks to augmented reality, such experiences are possible, even if they are not mainstream in 2022. Anyone who has an interest in gaming is eagerly awaiting news of augmented reality headsets from companies like Apple and Google as they wait to see how this sector shapes up in the next three to five years.
Never Before Seen Gaming Experiences
There is a tendency to think linearly when it comes to video gaming and the advent of new technologies. People assume that every tech is about delivering more graphics and higher frame rates, but that is not the case.
The use of augmented reality and virtual reality technology to develop games is not about making the visuals sharper or more realistic, but about creating all-new experiences.
Being able to walk around your room and interact with virtual elements in your vision would be an extraordinary breakthrough. People can already play VR games on the Oculus Quest and other headsets, but the AR experiences are limited and not that great.
The coming years should see AR get a massive boost through the games that are being developed for this technology.
