Image by Annette Meyer from Pixabay
Gamers, watch out; some exciting new developments are on the horizon. As 2024 draws to a close, what is the new year promising?
The general consensus is that nothing major will be shaking up the gaming scene next year, but there are some exciting releases on everyone’s radar and some fun events to mark in the diary. So, in no particular order, here are some of the anticipated highlights to look forward to.
The most anticipated game
Rockstar’s highly anticipated GTA 6 has won itself an award before even being released. It scooped up the title of ‘Most Anticipated Game’ at the Game Awards 2024. Now, we will have to wait to see if it lives up to the hype. It also won the “Most Wanted Game” prize at the London Golden Joystick Awards last month.
More than a year before its release, it held a Guinness World Record when a 90-second trailer racked up more than 90 million video views within 24 hours. The announcement that there was going to be a trailer was liked by more than 6.7 million people on Instagram, and the trailer elicited countless reactions on YouTube. Each Grand Theft Auto release sets new records. According to Rockstar Games, the five titles have sold over 400 million copies to date, with GTA V accounting for 190 million of that figure.
In a year that many fear might plunge the US into uncertainty, GTA’s satirical mirror of society, with its clichés and madness, might not appear so far-fetched. How will the American Dream live up to the reality of a country obsessed with guns and their belief in God or aliens? Will GTA 6 be closer to reality than the creators could have imagined?
Casual Casino Gaming
Hyper-casual gaming has been gaining traction in recent years. These mobile video games are easy to play and usually free to download. Featuring very minimalistic interfaces, they are quick to pick up and put down. While this form of gaming has been around on app games for a while, it is less commonplace in real-money gambling games, where players tend to pay more attention to their chances of winning (and losing).
Aviator started a casino gambling trend that does not look like it will be crashing anytime soon (although that is precisely what the game is about). This multiplayer game features simple graphics like many hyper-casual gaming experiences. Unlike other casino games, the win depends on the player’s ability to time taking their cash out. A plane takes flight, and the potential winnings rack up on the screen, but the higher it climbs, the greater the chance of crashing (and losing everything). It puts a whole new spin on real money casino games.
If it all sounds a bit daunting, there are plenty of opportunities for people to try out real money casino games without taking too many risks. Online operators are increasingly offering free spins and other bonuses, enabling players to try before they buy. All the different types of Casino bonuses in Canada can easily be compared so that players can work out what is best for their style of play. 2025 promises Canadian gamers some cracking bonuses and gaming opportunities; the only decision will be when to stick and when to bail.
Game Con Canada
No matter what type of games you like to play, anyone who enjoys gaming up close and personal should block out June 13 – 15th in their diaries. Edmonton’s Expo Centre will host this year’s Game Con Canada – a three-day gaming expo where attendees can play hundreds of games from around the world. This is not an exclusive video game event either, as it features board game developers, too. The organizers bill it as a weekend full of gaming and entertainment, offering gamers the chance to make new friends and discover unique experiences
The convention also hosts the cos play competition with the largest prize cash pool in Canada. Competition will be fierce, so you might want to put your thinking caps on if you want to bag a prize in one of the following four categories. Whether you choose to go Manga, Superhero or favourite game character, the key is originating costumes yourself.
- Novice – to compete in this class, the contestant must not have previously won a major award, and the costume must be at least 50% made by the contestant.
- Journeyman – the contestant can previously have one or two “Best In” or “First Place” titles in a major cosplay competition. The costume must be at least 70% original and made by the contestant.
- Masters – now things are hotting up. This classification is open to contestants who have made at least 85% of the costume and have won more than three major awards.
- Best of the Best – the pinnacle of Canadian cosplay competition. This award goes to the supreme champion of the day. The contestant must have previously won a major award and made at least 85% of the costume.
Cosplay is not the only competition either. Game Con offers tabletop, trading card and eSports tournaments. The Warhammer 40,000 Narrative Tournament will take centre stage. While celebrity guests are yet to be announced, advance discount tickets are already on sale.
The inexorable advance of mobile gaming
The growth of mobile gaming is set to continue unabated, with evolving hardware and social connectivity transforming games from a solitary pursuit into a collaborative pastime. Players will increasingly connect for in-game events, cooperative missions and virtual concerts.
Fortnite, Roblox and Monopoly GO might have started the innovation, but this approach will likely become more pervasive across a much wider range of titles and brands.
Fully immersive gaming
Sometimes, it feels as though VR is the technology that promises to break through to the mainstream every year, but somehow, it always stays somewhere in the margins. 2025 promises to see AR and VR further integrated into gaming, with the lines between the physical and digital realms becoming increasingly blurred.
Accessible devices promise to let players engage in new, more immersive ways, with location-based experiences offering something different. It is anticipated that more gaming communities will meet up in person and game together.
There is every opportunity that 2025 could be the year that the gaming experience goes full circle, but only time will tell.