The 5G network is set to introduce seismic change to the world of gaming, creating the opportunity for it to be faster and more reliable than ever before.
The technological development is set to bring huge changes to the online entertainment industry as a whole, but the biggest effects will be felt in the world of gaming.
5G boosting the wider entertainment industry
The network innovation will bring benefits to the entertainment industry as a whole. This not only includes streaming services such as Netflix, which will be able to offer customers latency-free streaming of movies and TV shows but other areas of the entertainment industry are also following suit with innovations, which utilize the possibilities of 5G, such as the iGaming sector. This can be witnessed in the launch of new online casinos in the US market, which is shaking up the competitive market. The fifth generation of mobile networks will bring improvements to live casino games featuring live dealers such as roulette and blackjack.
A new era of latency-free cloud gaming
5G will usher in an era of latency-free cloud gaming as the technology will make it accessible to an increased number of users. This is particularly important with the explosion in smartphone use, which has led to a boom in the popularity of mobile gaming. The use of mobile platforms represents a major shift with video games such as Call of Duty: Mobile, which has been downloaded over 500 million times and is available to mobile users online as opposed to when a games console or PC was required. This creates the opportunity for more players to gain access to games worldwide with just a keyboard, monitor and a 5G connection.
The rise of content creators will also continue unabated as 5G coverage spreads across the world. Gamers and esports players have built huge followings on streaming platforms such as Twitch and 5G will create opportunities for gamers across the world to join this entertainment revolution. Richard Blevins, better known as Ninja, has 18.3 million followers on Twitch and has recently decided to end his exclusivity deal with the streaming platform. His plan is now to stream worldwide on six platforms simultaneously, giving him access to a greater audience of gamers.
The rise of the celebrity influencer
But while traditional media outlets have enviously eyed these large followings, they have hit back and the development will also result in mainstream media outlets striving to emulate the methods of platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch by positioning their stars and celebrities as ‘influencers’. This can also be seen in the prevalence of network news personalities building huge followings on social media platforms such as Twitter and YouTube, this gives journalists the opportunity to exert increased influence across various forms of media. CNN presenter Anderson Cooper has become a social media influencer in his own right with 9.9 million Twitter and 3.5 million Instagram followers.
Former professional wrestler turned actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has taken the phenomenon of the star influencer to a new level with his 334 million Instagram followers and 59 million fans on Facebook. He not only uses social media to promote his latest ventures such as movie promos and his investment in the XFL. He has also employed it as a platform to provide an opportunity to build more community-generated content into his output as was the case when he interacted with a US cop who bore a striking resemblance to the actor. The once-distant celebrities and personalities now interact directly with fans and use and react to content generated by the community itself. This also means stars can build their fanbase quickly and easily.
5G is set to revolutionize the entertainment industry, particularly in the world of gaming. As mobile gaming becomes increasingly more popular, the technology will provide opportunities for gamers around the world to access mobile gaming.
