Top-5 Innovative iGaming Software Developers to Watch in 2022
Accounting for the biggest share of revenues of the global digital media market, online gaming is projected to reach $23.56 billion in 2022, and be more than poised to do even better in the years to come. Boosted by the COVID-19 outbreak and the ever-growing demand for more accessible and enjoyable gaming, the world’s best software developers have come to great lengths to make their products as entertaining and attractive as possible.
At the same time, having been forced to look for digital avenues of entertainment and new connection channels, millions of gamers found it increasingly difficult to select between games from numerous software developers, each of which with its unique narrative and features. But maybe you’re a little bit luckier than that: even though the choice would always be subjective, we did try our best to research the iGaming market and unite the 5 most innovative developers within this single piece. Before we start, though, let’s give some credit to Anna Rosak from KasynoHEX, who helped us with the research.
#1 NVIDIA
There has been no match to the computer-generated imagery (CGI) for many years – after all, movie studios can spend weeks and months rendering every reflection and shadow to achieve the best possible realism, while games have to do the same on the go, 60 times a second or so as the player moves through virtual space – but NVIDIA is slowly but steadily changing that. The most innovative NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series graphics chips combine the traditional graphics processing with ray-tracing, a complex computational process simulating how light beams reflect off water, smoke, and chrome.
#2 FNATIC
Having onboarded the best eSports talents in the most popular games – League of Legends, Counter-Strike: GO, DOTA 2, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, and FIFA – FNATIC became what many believe the most all-encompassing eSports organization ever. Not only do they run an all-star cyber sportsmen squad, but they also sell gear, apparel, as well as make partnerships with celebrities from other niches. Inspired by Formula One, Sam Mathews, the company’s CEO, hired Nick Fry, the former CEO of the Mercedes AMG Formula One team, to become the head of commercial strategy.
#3 Microsoft
Arguably the most innovative company in the past two years, Microsoft is continuing to simplify gaming, now by empowering all Xbox fans with over 100 device-agnostic titles available through the xCloud streaming service. Last year, Microsoft launched its new generation console – the Xbox Series X – and acquired Zenimax Media to bring to its fans staples like Fallout, Doom, and Elder Scrolls. Anyone having access to Microsoft Game Pass, which is basically Microsoft’s Netflix for games, can play over a hundred titles from any Android-powered phone or tablet. What’s more, the new Smart Delivery feature upgrades and installs games automatically on the users’ new devices, and the games can be resumed right at the moment the player left off.
#4 Apollo Games
The least known software developer from our top-list, Apollo Games caters to the European gambling markets. Featuring gaming terminals of five types – Classic, Arcane, Neos, Thunder, and Hurricane – Apollo Games studio also creates slots, such as Joker, Poker Girls, Win Race, Magic Lady, and Birds. Many of the company’s products can be found at the most prestigious online casinos like Vulkan Vegas, Spinamba, Betsson, Energy Casino, and more.
#5 Sony
The most vicious competitor to Microsoft, Sony Interactive Entertainment has outsold its rival by more than two times in the past seven years, and the trend will likely continue. In 2020, Sony unwrapped its PlayStation 5, a revolutionary console employing real-life graphics and new features. Speaking of which, is it now possible to distinguish between different surfaces due to a more sensitive controller. Besides, blind players can now enjoy some games (for example, Last of Us Part II) with the help of sonar-like pings that mark approaching objects.
What’s in the Card for the Future?
Each generation of games is becoming more and more realistic, flexible, and all-encompassing. It shouldn’t take long until games will possess graphics as exquisite as movies do, but not only that: in the near future, we’ll likely be able to control on-screen action via brainwaves, using devices like Emotiv EPO. What a time to be alive!