There are few games out there that have evolved as much as slots have in their history. The hand-operated machines that kickstarted the industry are barely recognizable to today’s players, who are more accustomed to playing high-tech online options that are packed full of features.
Developers are constantly trying to push the evolution of slots forward and integrate new technology wherever possible. With virtual reality predicted to have a massive impact on the market in the next few years, it looks like studios are gearing up for the eventual transition to this new medium.
Rise of New Mechanics in Slots Market
As the online slots market has ballooned in size, it has opened opportunities for countless development studios to get into business. However, with so many rival companies, innovation is key to getting attention.
That’s why there are now so many new features of online slots. Developers are trying to come up with aspects of the games that have never been done before, giving players a new experience and making their games memorable. The best example of this was Big Time Gaming’s Megaways engine, which is now ubiquitous at online casinos. Countless games use the mechanic, including Zeus Lightning Megaways and Dynamite Riches Megaways.
The success of Megaways inspired other developers to do the same, with other mechanics such as Jackpot King and Connect & Collect among many new ways to play slot games.
The fact that all of these new features have been so popular with players shows that people are ready for the next stages of slots’ evolution. They highlight how players want the games to progress and offer different ways to play, suggesting that they will be open to new upgrades when the games enter VR as well.
VR Set to Be Mainstream by 2030
According to the latest projections, the global VR market will be worth at least $57 billion by 2030. Progression in the space is coming thick and fast, and as new headsets emerge, they make the older generations more accessible to the masses. Many people are waiting for a cheaper entry point as well as greater progression before they get into VR, but this moment could be coming soon. Â
Many users are also looking for better games and experiences to become available before they buy a VR headset. This is where online casinos could step in and help give VR the boost it needs. If developers come up with groundbreaking new slot games that highlight the power of the futuristic platform, players will want to try them out.
It’s likely that, if VR games do come in at casinos, it will be a gradual process. The games that exist currently will still be the main ones for a while, but online casinos may start offering some VR games alongside them. As VR’s influence starts to spread around the world over the next decade, the rise of VR slots is likely to quicken pace as well. One day, VR may be the only way to play these games.