Augmented Reality: An Immersive Online Gaming Experience
“Technology is best when it brings people together,” said Matt Mullenweg, a social media entrepreneur, which is extremely applicable to innovative gaming elements such as augmented reality (AR). With a rising demand for more diverse online gaming and sports wagering platforms, augmented reality-based games will help in attracting a variety of players through an immersive gaming experience.
Augmented reality is quite different than its counterpart, virtual reality (VR). AR enhances the real world with virtual-based elements, whereas VR creates a computer-based simulation of the real or imaginary world. While virtual reality is already very popular in the video game industry, augmented reality is slowly becoming an important component in the online gaming industry.
As the COVID-19 pandemic brought the temporary closures of land-based casinos, online gaming saw a rise. With the increasing popularity of online gaming, AR-based table games became more prevalent as they provided an alternative for players who couldn’t visit a land-based casino due to the pandemic. Players who opt to play AR-linked table games such as blackjack, poker, or even roulette can interact with a live dealer which helps to create a more immersive gaming experience. According to a CasinoBeats article, live dealers, who are part of the AR experience, will continue to become more popular. These real-life casino elements will help in attracting players to online gaming platforms.
Additionally, augmented reality has also helped gaming providers in creating captivating game shows and board game-based products for the online gaming market. For example, there are AR-linked games such as Deal Or No Deal, Monopoly Live, Mega Ball, and much more. The importance of these games is that a majority of them are exclusive to the online gaming industry. While players can find table games such as blackjack or poker in both online and land-based casinos, AR-linked games such as Deal Or No Deal can only be accessed through online gaming platforms—resulting in more promising player acquisition and retention rates.
As more regions launch their own iGaming markets, the pursuit to provide a unique gaming experience for players will be the most important item for merchants. And with the capabilities of enhancing the real-world experience with technology-driven components, augmented reality will be the tool that will transform the online gaming industry by attracting players and creating an innovative gaming experience.
