Is there an aspect of life that hasn’t been touched by the internet in some way or another? If there is, we don’t know what it is. You can buy internet-connected refrigerators, there’s 5G in dozens of U.S. National Parks, and there’s even a “smart” cat litter tray.
So yes, the internet has been a resounding success, impacting just about everything. Nowhere has this been felt more keenly than in the gaming world, which grew to prominence at the same time that the internet was becoming ubiquitous.
While this impact has been broadly beneficial to gamers, it hasn’t been entirely positive. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few pros and cons of the internet’s impact on gaming below.
Pro: Easy to Find Titles
There are many, many games released each year in the internet era, comfortably more than 10,000 when you factor in all platforms. Yet, despite the overwhelming number of options available, which is significantly more than in the past, it’s arguably never been easier to find a new title.
In the olden days, recommendations were gatekeeper by video game stores and the leading gaming magazines, of which there were not many. If a game was not promoted by those two, then it could easily slip through the cracks. Today, gamers can find new titles by searching online, joining forums, or looking at games related to titles they’ve already enjoyed.
Con: You’ll Need Great Internet
Well, this isn’t entirely true — it’s possible to play some games without a great internet connection. But if you want the full experience of all that modern gaming can be, then you’ll need to have a fast internet connection. And while that’s something that many people who live in urban areas possess, those in more rural areas do not. If you don’t access more than 50Mbps, then the latest PlayStation and console games will be beyond your reach.
Pro: It Made It Cheaper
The internet hasn’t just made gaming cheaper; it’s made it significantly cheaper. Think of mobile games, many of which are free to download and play (of course, in-game purchases are possible). Affordable subscription services from leading gaming companies such as EA and PlayStation, meanwhile, allow gamers to access a large catalogue of games that would, in the past, have a significant combined cost. The internet has also given rise to offers and promotions on games that would historically never be eligible for deals; think of online slots websites, which typically offer introductory deals that you would never find in a real-world environment. Then there’s the matter of game-sharing, which means that multiple friends and family members can enjoy a game with one single purchase.
Con: There’s a General Focus On Multiplayer Experiences
That the internet has allowed for the true promise of multiplayer games to be realised is broadly a positive thing, but it’s not perfect. The vast majority of games — and virtually all major releases — are now online multiplayer games, which is fine if you love that experience, but if you’re someone who enjoys individual experiences, then you can feel a little left out. Internet-based multiplayer games have been shown to produce deeper engagement with players, so it’s little surprise that game companies keep making them. But those who remember the days of playing a great game entirely by themselves may well miss those slightly simpler times.
Pro: More People Can Play
We’ll end this article on a ‘pro’ point because in general, the internet has done wonders for gaming. Plus, this point is a big one: the internet allowed more people to become gamers. It’s strange to think about now, but it was only a couple of decades ago that gaming was a relatively niche hobby. Today, billions of people consider themselves to be gamers, and that wouldn’t be possible without the internet, which allowed for quality mobile games to be released. And as they always say, the more the better.