The gaming industry has evolved significantly in the last few years. From buying hard-copy cassettes and gaming disks to online experiences and gaming services – things have changed. Now friends can play together no matter how far apart they are. The internet has made it possible for people to play together without hauling around heavy hardware and connecting tons of cables. However, gamers still have a few hurdles to overcome.
This article will take a quick look at how the gaming industry has evolved. We’ll also look at some of the modern challenges gamers face. Finally, we’ll also look at how tools, like a location-specific US residential proxy, can improve your gaming experience.
The Evolution of the Gaming Industry – A Summary
The gaming industry has grown at a rapid pace, and has even outgrown the movie and music industries combined. Although it’s been around for about 50 years, there have never been more changes and advancements made than in the last 20 years. From simple monochromatic line games to realistic-looking 3D games – the industry sure has come a long way.
In the last 20 years, we’ve seen the following changes come to the gaming industry:
- Online gaming and game purchases
- Social media gaming
- Mobile gaming
- eSports
- Development of AR and VR for gaming
- Interactive games and console wars
Challenges Faced by the Gaming Community
Along with progress comes the unavoidable creation of new challenges to overcome. The same goes for the gaming community. Some of the common challenges have always been hardware and having a console or computer setup powerful enough to play the ever-growing demand of new games. However, in the last few years, more challenges have come up that modern-day gamers need to face.
Online Shopping Fraud
More games are being bought online. This is often easier and more convenient than going to a physical store and purchasing a game disc. There are also other benefits, such as playing immediately on the launch day as the process takes place much faster. Many games also offer in-game purchases. This is especially true for mobile games and even certain popular titles like Roblox and Fortnite.
However, with more gamers making online purchases, this has become an attractive target for hackers. Cybercriminals can hack into these shopping platforms and gain access to all your financial details if these companies don’t have adequate protection. Armed with this information, these attackers can commit identity theft, make purchases in your name and ruin your credit. With the increase in online purchases comes an influx of scams. Many websites pose as reputable game sellers, but once you make a payment, you never receive your game.
Internet Connectivity Issues
Many games are now transitioning online, making it possible for friends worldwide to play together. However, to play online, you require a stable internet connection. This can be challenging in countries where the internet infrastructure isn’t well developed. You might even experience issues if you’re located in a country that’s a long distance from the game servers, which can cause lags.
Geolocation of Servers
Where the servers of a particular game are based can also affect your experience. Geolocation restrictions can make it difficult for you and your foreign friends to join the same server and play together. Geolocation of the servers can also mean you end up amongst people where you don’t understand the language, cultural references, or etiquette.
Gaming Advantages When Using a Proxy
A proxy service is one of the easiest ways to improve your gaming experience quickly. For example, location-specific proxies, like US residential proxies, will change your IP to one within the country for many gaming benefits.
Less Lag, Better Performance
A proxy can improve game performance by increasing connection speeds and reducing lag. This is because the proxy routes through powerful servers, and all your gaming files and recalls are stored on the proxy server’s side. This makes it faster to recall and access, giving you a better gaming experience.
Access Servers Anywhere
When setting up a proxy, most will allow you to choose the country and location of the IP. With US residential proxies, you get an IP in that country. This means you can choose a country or location closest to the gaming server you want to join.
Bypass Restrictions
Since you can select any location when using proxies, you can bypass any restrictions on games. If a game isn’t available in your country, you can use a proxy and select a country it is available in and enjoy playing the game.
Additional Protection
A proxy also adds an additional layer of security and anonymity to your connection. By hiding your IP, it makes tracking and data collection nearly impossible. Even if a hacker were to track the IP, they’d only end up at the proxy server, which has adequate security to eliminate these potential attackers quickly.
Final Thoughts
The gaming industry has seen many changes in the last few years. Along with these improvements came new challenges, such as internet connectivity and buying safely online. However, a simple proxy can significantly impact your gaming experience. From reducing lags to adding extra security – a proxy is a useful tool for online gamers.