Gaming and iGaming are closely related from a software and spelling perspective, but in the wider world, the two industries are kept largely separate. The primary audience of iGaming is very different, and the rules and regulations it embraces to keep users safe are a step above, for example, but there remain some strong cross-overs. The most profound of these are found in the multi-platform and lower-requirement approach, perfectly demonstrated by online casino gaming. These are important considerations for the greater video gaming landscape, and despite being overlooked, they’re only growing more crucial by the year.
The Casino Standout
For an illustration of how the iGaming multiplatform and performance experience stands out, consider the modern Canadian online casino Betano. From the games like Moleionaire and Big Bass Crash to the browsing and searching experience, everything is developed to work efficiently across a wide range of devices of varying hardware power. Including smartphones, tablets, desktops, laptops, and even some smart TVs, the range of access available is some of the best in the digital entertainment space.
Why do Console Manufacturers Care?
One of the biggest issues facing gaming manufacturers today is the cost of their big first and second-party AAA releases. Spider-man 2 on the PS5 is a prime example, which reportedly cost around $300 million to develop, according to leaks reported on by IGN. This expensive procedure made it so the game needed to sell 7.2 million units to break even.
This is a problem because Spider-man 2 is so far locked to PS5 systems, of which around 57 million units have sold. In other words, more than 10% of all PS5 owners need to purchase a full-priced Spider-man 2 to make the title’s development worthwhile. The more platforms offer a game, the wider the potential audience, just like with online casinos, but this in itself is tricky for first and second-party games.
The reason these games are locked to one console is thanks to deals which help bolster the value of said console. This has created a pattern where games cost more to make because of publisher and manufacturer feedback, they have a more limited potential audience thanks to the manufacturer, and this makes them dangerous investments.
Borrowing the Casino Solution
Online casinos operate as strong solutions because they’re rarely competing on an exclusive, but more than that, they’re also built on less-expensive software. Unlike the most expensive games on this list from Watch Mojo, casino game development is much cheaper. This is a conscious choice, where developers know they could invest enormous sums, but they understand this is a losing battle.
Interestingly, this is also a lesson that gaming has already taught, with simple games like Tetris and Wii Sports being some of the best-selling of all time. Ultimately, the fault here lies with the inability of video games to understand that gameplay is what really matters. An enormous amount of casino gameplay has been the same for decades, and yet they still grow more popular. Instead of chasing the most polygons and largest worlds, gaming could lean into putting gameplay first, and invest in more multiplatform experiences where the console user experience matters most. As for whether they’ll ever learn from making the same mistake over and over again, that much remains in doubt.
