The rollout of 5G services in India will take the country’s gaming sector to the next level. Cloud-based gaming, low latency, high speed, and seamless multiplayer interactions will all be achievable with this 5th-generation technology.
Casual games, esports games, and, of course, real-money games on platforms like FanClash (where one can play fantasy on various esports tournaments) are all part of the online gaming sector. According to Inc42, the number of online gaming users in India is expected to increase from 481 million in 2022 to 657 million in 2025. With such a high number of users, it becomes necessary for a country to bring out advanced technologies like 5G. At the India Gaming Conclave 2022, experts even suggested that the 5G launch in India will put the country on the path to becoming the world’s largest online gaming hub.
So, gaming fanatics should surely be on the lookout for the revolution that 5G is about to bring to the gaming sector.
Speed and low latency
The most significant perk of 5G is its high speed and bandwidth. It will lead to rapid downloads and updates of high-resolution games. 5G gamers can do real-time streaming free of glitches and stream on various platforms like YouTube, Instagram Live, Twitch, etc. with ease. Latency can hamper the gaming experience and cause time lag, making it difficult to enjoy the games properly. The 5G network will ensure ultra-low latency, promising smoother gameplay.
Gaming is a social experience, or one can say, a community-building activity. Arrival of 5G will provide gamers with a liberty to play, interact and stream seamlessly. With its low latency of near 5 milliseconds and high speed, games can be played anytime, anywhere. A user does not have to worry about being present in a Wi-Fi zone to play a competitive multiplayer game. They can rely on the 5G network easily.
The 5G technology will also benefit the esports industry. A stable internet connection is of immense importance in esports and 5G will benefit players and the viewers to tune into the tournaments. Not only this, it is also an advantage for gaming tournament organisers as, with better connections, they will gain more traction and conduct more localised events, creating a wider audience.
VR and AR Gaming
VR and AR technologies help gamers have a more immersive experience while playing and give them a chance to truly escape into new worlds. VR is a computer-generated experience that immerses the user in a virtual world. It is a multi-sensory adventure. Instead of just viewing a game on screen, one feels like they are actually interacting with a 3D world.
AR doesn’t engulf the users completely in a virtual world but enhances reality by interacting with real-world surroundings. An extremely popular example of this is Pokémon GO. This game had millions of people going bananas over finding little virtual creatures in their surroundings.
AR only requires the smartphone’s camera and phone screen, whereas VR requires special headsets, VR helmets, and computers or mobile devices. Current networks like 4G do not provide the latency, reliability, and bandwidth required for experiencing AR and VR gaming. AR and VR require high reliability, low latency, and high bandwidth. The 5G mobile network is the cornerstone of AR and VR gaming.
The 5G technology will make the games more stimulating and immersive. This will also encourage the game developers to add more advanced features to the games, making the experience more captivating for the players.
Cloud Gaming
Games are becoming more complex and layered to give players a more immersive experience. They require massive bandwidth, low latency, and high-end hardware to function.
Cloud gaming is a gaming service that lets users access and play video games using cloud servers. The games are accessible to the user without the user having to download the games to their device. Cloud gaming doesn’t require a hefty machine as long as there is a fast and stable network with good bandwidth. And with the promise of low latency and massive bandwidth, 5G is on its way to making a significant shift in cloud gaming.
Way Forward
In October, at the Indian Mobile Congress event, 5G services were officially launched in India. Since then, various telecom companies like Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea have been announcing their rollout plans. At the moment, a 5G network is available in selected cities. For instance, 5G services by Airtel have gone live in eight cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Siliguri, Nagpur, and Varanasi.
India’s gaming industry is witnessing a great hike. Based on a recent Sequoia and BCG report, the Indian gaming sector generates 1.5 billion USD in revenue and is predicted to triple to over 5 billion USD by 2025. Although 5G technology is still in its early stages, it is expected to usher in new possibilities for the gaming industry. It will lead to glitch-free multiple-player games, jiffy downloads, buffer-free live streaming, and real-time gaming.
