The world of digital technology is amongst the most dynamic one, and we are witnessing a major paradigm shift that is revolutionizing the digital entertainment industry. This shift is fuelled by augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and Metaverse technologies and concepts. These are transforming digital consumer segments such as esports and digital entertainment.
The Rise of the New-Age Entertainment and Immersive Platforms
Both, AR and VR offer unique and captivating experiences. The seamless integration of these technologies has led to the Metaverse – an interconnected universe that combines virtual and real-life elements into one real-time experience.
VR provides life-like environments with its high-definition graphics and advanced sensor-powered tracking. VR games like ‘Half Life: Alyx’ and ‘Beat Saber’ showcase the power and capabilities of this technology. On the other hand, AR has enhanced real-world surroundings by blending in digital elements. A great example can be of ‘Pokémon GO,’ which created a buzz in the gaming industry by overlaying virtual creatures onto the players’ physical environment and real locations.
Key companies like Epic Games and Nvidia are driving advancements. Epic Games’ Unreal Engine and Nvidia’s Omniverse platform are, at the forefront of building the Metaverse.
Media and entertainment industries are poised for a change, and are prepared to leverage the capabilities of AR, VR, and the Metaverse. Other sectors such as hospitality, education, and retail can also passively benefit from this change. In this respect, digital entertainment and esports segments are at the forefront of the revolution.
The Impact on Esports
Esports has gone through a transformation ranging from video games to intricate multiplayer arenas and diverse digital content. Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Valve have played a role in this evolution while deeply embedding this form of entertainment into modern pop-culture. Exciting innovations like Virtuixs Omni treadmill and VR games like ‘Echo Arena’ are transforming sports by providing exhilarating zero gravity experiences.
Moreover, AR is revolutionizing live event broadcasts by adding a layer of depth to the spectator experience. It overlays real-time statistics, player profiles and strategic insights directly onto the user interface or consumer’s display. Technologies such as ARKit (Apple), ARCore (Google), and Vuforia (PTC) are enabling this innovation, making Esports more appealing to the audience.
Metaverse holds potential to redefine user engagement, by allowing athletes, spectators, and other participants to engage with the environment in real time. It provides an engaging experience that could potentially set a new standard for esports involvement and viewership, in the coming years. These technologies create environments that immerse both players and spectators in the heart of the action.
Influence on Digital Entertainment, Beyond Gaming
The combined power of AR, VR and the Metaverse is rapidly expanding into newer avenues of entertainment beyond gaming. Platforms like WaveXR and Artland are examples of this transformation. They utilize VR to host concerts and online art exhibits, offering captivating experiences.
AR, enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities adds an interactive layer to digital content. This is observed through features like Snapchats AR lenses and Instagram filters. It enhances engagement across varied forms of entertainment while introducing exciting new dimensions.
The potential impact of VR extends beyond gaming, and this includes movies, concerts, and virtual tourism. Through realistic simulations, VR enables previously unimaginable experiences that redefine what is considered as entertainment. All of these transport a user beyond the traditional boundaries of entertainment, providing them with more interactivity and choice-based progression through a story or experience.
The film and television industries are on the brink of a revolution, where traditional storytelling could blend with experiences giving audiences the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in narratives like never before. For instance, a viewer watching a thriller would be able to step right into the movie, choosing which characters perspective he/she wants to follow, or even be able have an influence on how the storyline unfolds.
The tourism sector has observed high impact owing to the digital transformation. Tourists can take a virtual tour of their favourite holiday destination and gain an immersive experience. This will help them in their decision making and help them to customize their itineraries.
Concerts and live performances can be also streamed virtually, and audiences across the globe can gain front-row experience while staying at home.
Moreover, these technological innovations can be leveraged by institutions and training centres, to create realistic training scenarios. The students can be taken on exciting virtual field trips, to far-flung locations, set either in the modern era or going back in time to an era of their choice.
The Future of Digital Entertainment and Esports
- Athletes can hone their skills through VR simulation which can offer a perfect training environment to modulate their gaming strategies.
- With advancement in AI, users can gain immersive experience based on their preference, thus enhancing their engagement with digital content.
- In the future, Metaverse has the potential to become the standard for hosting esports tournaments.
- Technological advancements in AR, VR, AI, and the Metaverse will redefine features such as personalization and customization for users to gain unprecedented levels of realism and interaction.
Technology developers and other ecosystem players should make persistent efforts to understand consumers’ preference by embracing competitive strategies such as collaborations.
Authored by: Soumyadeep Roy Chowdhury, Senior Industry Analyst – ICT, TechVision, Frost & Sullivan
