Technology has advanced rapidly in the past 20 years, having a major effect on almost every industry, and shows no signs of slowing down. One of the most notable changes has been in the gaming industry, which is almost entirely unrecognisable from how it was two or three decades ago. So, what are these changes, and exactly how have they benefited the industry?
How did the industry look 20 years ago?
For many of us, 2005 may not seem like that long ago, but alas, it was 20 years ago. So, how did the gaming industry look back then? The PS2 and original Xbox were nearing the end of their life cycle, hype for the next generation of consoles was swelling, and online gaming was in its infancy. Online review sites existed but were not as widely accessible as they are now.
Gaming had progressed to quite an extent but had a long way to go. Compelling 3D graphics were somewhat the norm but borderline photo-realistic visuals were a distant dream.
Analog games going digital
There are many tried and true games that now have online counterparts. For example, slot machines were first created in the late 1800s; now, in the modern age, new online slots are a big part of the industry. With a massive variety in themes, bonuses and payouts, it’s easy to see how far this sector of the industry has progressed.
Along with slot machines and other casino games, there are many classics that have been modernised. For example, many different board games, such as chess, are easily accessible for online play, so you can connect with people all across the world.
How has video game marketing changed?
Marketing in general has changed significantly over the past few decades, with sponsored influencers and affiliate marketing being the big players now, whereas there was an emphasis on TV-based advertising back in the day. This is not to say this is completely gone now, but in terms of the gaming industry, the demographic they are generally trying to reach are more likely to engage with online content.
This has resulted in YouTubers, or streamers, being compensated for reviewing or playing a game. Games studios with social media accounts have also opened the door to a new form of guerrilla-style marketing – their tweets or Instagram posts going viral is all they need to attract of an audience and make it big.
Online video game reviews
The spread of video game review websites has changed the industry for the better. A couple of decades ago, if you saw a game you were interested in, you could possibly find a review in a magazine or hear a word of mouth opinion. Although online review sites did exist, they were much less common, not to mention the fact that having access to the internet was not as widespread as it is now.
In the modern age, if you are interested in a video game, it’s as easy as a quick Google search, which will give you countless different opinions, statistics and more. This has greatly improved the experience for consumers, as they are able to make much more informed opinions.
Visions becoming realised
It would be impossible to talk about technology in conjunction with gaming without mentioning virtual reality, which the industry has been experimenting with for a while. This is evident from Nintendo’s Virtual Boy, released in 1995, which visually shares a lot of the similarities with modern VR headsets. Unfortunately for Nintendo, they were ahead of their time, with the Virtual Boy being universally panned by consumers and critics alike.
Now, in 2025, this vision has been somewhat realised, with VR headsets playing an important part in the industry. Big hitters like the Meta Quest and Value index have become household names within gaming circles, while games like Boneworks and Half-Life: Alyx are a testament to what this technology can do. Although there definitely is still progress to be made in terms of a truly fluid virtual reality gaming experience, the industry has certainly come a long way.
Advancements in graphics and processing power
Within computer gaming circles, it is a very big thing to have the most powerful PC, with users constantly upgrading the GPU, the CPU, the RAM etc. It can get rather pricey, especially with Nvidia’s pricing on their latest graphics cards, with the new GeForce RTX 5090 costing around £1,900. It can still be tricky to get your hands on one of these – not to mention the price gouging that was happening due to the lack of supply.
Having said all that, with these expensive components comes some immense power, allowing performance unheard of until now. This includes 8K gaming, with photo-realistic graphics. This really is cutting-edge technology used to maximum capacity.
What’s next?
With the recent Online Safety Act having been implemented in the UK, many people may think we’re approaching Armageddon for the online gaming industry. Of course, no one can know for sure about what is to happen, but most likely, things will shift logistically but fundamentally stay similar. After all, this Act was implemented to protect people.
There is a lot to look forward to, though – with higher internet speeds, we’re getting more stable forms of cloud gaming, along with AI chatbots that are becoming more advanced week by week, requiring no downloads and offering gamers a seamless and hassle-free way to play games.
We’ve also been seeing a lot more cross-platform integration recently, which is a massive plus for the social aspects of gaming, allowing gamers on all platforms to compete with each other.
I’m Laura Wilson, a passionate blogger and content creator with a deep interest in business, finance, and entrepreneurship. I’ve had the opportunity to write for several premium blogs, sharing insights & practical advice for individuals & small businesses. I’m the founder and publisher of ukbusinessmag.co.uk, where I focus on creating valuable, easy-to-understand content to help UK startups & SMEs grow.
