Whatever is going on in the world, one thing is for sure, and that is people will always want to be entertained. From early games to cinema to the virtual reality world, the way that the entertainment realm has evolved over time has been immense, and this is especially true since the digital revolution.
No longer is a weekly trip to the cinema or an occasional visit to the theatre quite enough, we want the opportunity to seek out daily escapes, and we want it to be more accessible than ever. Thanks to our smart phones, tablets and televisions, we can now access a range of exciting entertainment options at our fingertips to be played or enjoyed at our leisure, whenever we feel the urge to take ourselves to the next level of our favourite game or catch up on the latest episode of our preferred podcast series.
If you like to stay up to date with the latest trends in the digital entertainment world then read on for the five trends that are set to take 2022 by storm.
Mobile gaming to soar
You only need to look at the popularity of the likes of Candy Crush, Clash of Clans or online casino or bingo sites to see that people love a bit of escapism, even if it’s only for ten minutes at a time. Where it was family board games, solo video game sessions or dedicated games nights with friends, it is now apps and easy to access sites that keep us thoroughly entertained for as long as we need them to.
From keeping up to date with the latest SammyBingo Slingo sites to checking the top-rated games on the app store to get the hottest new picks as soon as they land, we can’t see the popularity of mobile gaming slowing down any time soon.
Video channels
From opinion pieces to dance routines and how to videos to insights into the lives of our favourite celebrities, the rise in the use of video focused social networking platforms has skyrocketed in the last decade or so. On top of the likes of YouTube there is TikTok, which we correctly predicted, in August 2019, that’s its popularity would soar and it will be interesting to see what will take off next. Instagram reels were launched in summer 2020 and it is said that the platform will evolve further by focussing on its video related formats to win back its younger audience from Chinese owned TikTok.
Audio entertainment
Though podcasts, music streaming and audio books are certainly nothing new, it’s safe to say that these forms of entertainment have shot up in recent years by consumers who can take in the latest novel from their favourite writer or listen to an entertaining conversation while they partake in other activities. Podcast listeners in the UK alone are expected to almost double from 8.99 million listeners in 2017 to a predicted 17.78 million in 2022, and with this we are likely to see the industry becoming more professional, with creators taking their hobby to a legitimate business.
Virtual worlds
We keep talking about this, and for good reason. The technology in virtual reality is getting better year on year and the uptake of headsets and games that are based in other worlds is most definitely gaining momentum. Soon we will be escaping entirely and leaving our physical selves behind by leaping into virtual realities or combining the two with augmented reality technology. With the teasing that Apple is to launch its AR headset in early 2022, and the hype surrounding any of their products forever abundant, these devices could well be commonplace this time next year.
Streaming services
We know all the big-name streaming services and we all likely sign up to at least a few of them to get our fix of the latest movies and TV shows making waves in the industry. Fear of missing out is certainly a factor when it comes to these subscription services, and it is evident that loyalty to a particular channel on TV is no longer as strong as it once was.
With competition fiercer than ever, the big-name TV packages will have to think harder about how they can retain existing customers rather than lose them to companies who are willing to offer more for a lot less, and one trend we see is more niche services coming to the fore.
