Long gone are the days of low-resolution video games, the ones in which the characters are all grainy and oddly rigid. And while people might have some nostalgia for those early days, it’s fair to say that the future of video games lies in the hyperrealistic. Already there are games being released that can only be played on the Playstation 5 because the demands are too high for the previous generation, and this is a trend that we can expect to see continue. Why? Partly because it’s impressive to marvel at the skill of the software developers, but also because higher-quality graphics mean more immersive gameplay, and who wouldn’t want that?
Hyper realistic success
We’re seeing talented software developers in all areas of gaming, and it seems that they’re able to keep up with consumer demand for high-quality games. Just look at Ghost of Tsushima for example, the 2020 action-adventure game which takes place in 13th century Japan, which has been praised for rendering human movement and sound in super realism.
Or, consider the ultra-popular Red Dead Redemption 2, which is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious open-world environments ever, known and loved by fans because of the sheer scale of its landscape. Every bit of the natural world is animated so it moves in exactly the right way.
Anti Realism Sentiment
But hyper realism isn’t for everyone; the iconic, blocky game, Minecraft, looking as though it came straight from 1998 had its biggest year in 2020, clocking in 131 million monthly annual users. Similarly, the success of iGaming software developers like NetEnt and Playtech suggests that games with a simple premise and a retro feel still have their place in the entertainment industry.
Additionally, there is some worry that the gaming industry is focusing too much on realistic graphics instead of engaging plots. So, that’s definitely something to keep in mind, and game developers should watch out that graphics don’t take the place of story and thoughtful plotting, instead making sure that they’re paired alongside other elements of good game design.
The Future of Gaming
Nonetheless, when we consider the future of gaming, good quality graphics will absolutely continue to grow, alongside even more immersive technology like virtual reality gaming, which is slowly but surely growing in popularity with the aid of virtual reality hardware headsets. Alongside augmented reality games that incorporate gaming into our physical world – perhaps best illustrated by the success of the 2016 mobile phone game Pokemon GO in which players were encouraged out onto the streets to collect pokemon in the world around them.
So, with this in mind. Where do you fall on the debate of the realistic game? Do you think that high-fidelity graphics are the right thing for software designers to pursue? Or, do you feel more connected to the games that have a heavier emphasis on content than visuals? As is certainly the case for many game players including the likes of the lead programmer at Raven Software so who claims that gameplay will always win over graphics.
An endlessly fascinating debate, it’s worth saying that we don’t need to choose one over the other, and instead can look forward to a future in which graphics continue to improve while never compromising on gameplay or plot – making this an exciting time for gamers all around!