Playing Across the Divide: Lessons that iGaming Can Learn from the Video Game Industry

In the rapidly evolving world of iGaming, the industry finds itself at a fascinating crossroads. Gameplay mechanics, social gaming options, player-to-player competitions, and bonus features have become increasingly complex, and player demand continues to grow.

The days of creating slot games with the same old themes and gameplay features are long gone. Players want a more engaging experience, and one place the industry can find this is by looking across the virtual divide into the world of video games.

A Source of Inspiration

Video games are, in many ways, the defining entertainment medium of this generation, and there are a lot of lessons that iGaming can learn from them.

One thing that has become clear in recent years is that players want a more enriching and engaging iGaming experience. There are several ways to do this; one is through incorporating engaging characters, themes, and narratives into gameplay, and the other is through social features, rewards and interactions.

Video games have succeeded in both areas, with the online gaming boom of the last decade or so highlighting how effective community building and player competition can be. Leaderboards, multiplayer options, tournaments, and social interactions drive player engagement and have been effectively utilised.

A More Personalised and Social Experience

iGaming has, for years, been a solitary experience. Players log in to their online casino accounts, hit spin and play alone. The invention of crash games and more enhanced live-casino games has begun to change this, but there is still much room for growth. Developers can take their game offerings to the next level by incorporating these social, interactive elements.

To make these social experiences feel all the more personal, games and casinos can offer players the chance to customise avatars, profiles, and themes. We have seen this be a massive success in many free-to-play battle royale-style games that have dominated the online gaming world for the last decade.

Adding a personalised touch or striving towards more unlockable content keeps players engaged and returning for more. The latter point is something that is easy to imagine entering the world of iGaming, with players tracking progress and unlocking bonuses/features as games progress.

Developers do not need to wait to make these changes regarding compelling themes and narratives. More intriguing characters or stories in gaming can be an incredibly effective way of gaining traction. Story-based game progression, such as what we offer in our Gates of Hellfire slot, can significantly impact the gaming experience.

A Shift in Mindset

These changes must be implemented from the beginning of the creative process.  Slot developers, to truly get the most out of their games, must be looking at their games as a form of entertainment right from the very beginning.

If you look at your slot game as a standard slot, that is all it will be. By approaching the creative process differently, developers can find new ways to entertain their audiences and stand out in an incredibly crowded marketplace.

Of course, pretending there are no obstacles to overcome would be foolish. The gaming industry has vast budgets and many more resources than your standard iGaming company. There is also a much stronger demand for regular content in the iGaming space, with many studios streamlining their creative processes and being able to churn out games regularly. These are all obstacles that developers will need to work around, with advancements in technology no doubt playing their part.

Players’ expectations will continue to rise in the coming years, and iGaming companies must be prepared to adapt. The video game industry is an obvious source of inspiration, not just in terms of gameplay and narrative but also for player retention and marketing. Online slots and games must now be able to offer a more complete experience than ever before, and at Gaming Corps, we aim to be a part of that movement.

Author: Connor Blinman, Head of Games at Gaming Corps