The world of gaming is always in a constant state of flux. New games are being released, and there are new platforms under development all of the time. These platforms include console, desktop, laptop, mobile, and cloud gaming. Each one offers unique pros and cons, and it’s up to you as the gamer to choose the one that really suits your needs, time, and play style.
We’ve put together a simple breakdown of the very best platforms for enjoying the latest online games. These are platforms that are widely accessible and give you the chance to enjoy the international favorite pastime that is video gaming.
Desktop Gaming
Considered a staple of the gaming world, desktop gaming is all about having the most immersive experience possible. This means having access to powerful hardware capable of rendering just about any type of graphical environment. Desktop computers are a good choice for online gaming, with MMORPGs as well as competitive gaming being at the forefront of the available choices. Of course, desktop gaming also has certain limitations, such as a lack of portability as well as the expense associated with putting together a powerful system. For the gamer that likes to have the very best visual experience, a desktop computer is the top choice.
Laptops are in a similar vein, except that thermal limitations typically make them less powerful than their desktop counterparts. They do, however, offer the option to make your gaming portable, while still offering plenty of graphical processing power.
Console Gaming
Console gaming is almost as popular as the desktop sphere, with some exceptions. One of the advantages of consoles is that they are almost completely plug-and-play, meaning that you can get to gaming straight away. The caveat, of course, is that you don’t get to choose the hardware that goes into the device. For the most part, however, consoles have hardware powerful enough to play most modern games, even if it means having to limit the overall frames per second.
Mobile Gaming
The fastest-growing gaming industry in the world is no doubt the world of mobile gaming. We’ve seen it explode in popularity across the globe, and more games get added to the various mobile app stores with every passing week. Android and iOS are the dominant mobile operating systems in the world, and cover much of the gaming market. All kinds of games are on offer, ranging from online MMORPGs to strategy games and even the latest pokies games.
Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets are continuing to become more powerful as we move into the future. Most of them are easily capable of rendering 3D visuals, while also providing an immersive touch screen experience. Above all, this is portable gaming at its very best, especially when we consider that the majority of people in the world have some kind of smartphone sitting in their pockets. Mobile gaming is set to grow even bigger in coming years, and we will see the App Store and Google Play fill with more and more interesting titles.
Cloud Gaming
Relatively new to the gaming world and still very much under development, cloud gaming nevertheless has a place for many gamers. Instead of having your own hardware to power your games, you can instead rely on the efficiency of data centre servers and high speed internet. Gamers are able to take advantage of this combination while also saving money in the long run. There are a lot of different cloud gaming services to choose from, but such as the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate would be ideal for anyone that wants the best experience around.
Games are streamed directly to the device of your choice, including desktop, mobile, and Xbox, if you have one. Microsoft has created a seamless and smooth gaming experience that utilizes the latest cloud gaming technologies. At around $15 a month, it’s not the cheapest service around, but with the range of features on offer, it’s worth every cent. Not only will you be able to enjoy Xbox exclusives, but there are many PC games to also choose from.
As we can see, there has never been a better time to be an online gamer. The range of platforms means that there’s just about something for everyone. It makes gaming more accessible and in many ways that much cheaper. Over the next few years, we will undoubtedly see even more hybrid platforms entering the market and transforming the games that we love.
