The past decade has seen online gaming of all types break through into the mainstream and form one of the biggest entertainment industries on the planet. There are now an estimated 1 billion gamers playing online, according to Statista, and annual revenue for the sector is predicted to reach over $26 billion this year. Gaming is now more popular and more successful than the TV and music industries combined, so it’s easy to see why so many more people are deciding to give it a go.
However, if you’re not a seasoned gaming pro and you’ve barely looked at a console since high school, then you might not be aware of how to get the most out of online gaming in today’s world. Things have moved on significantly from the console and cartridge era of old, with online gaming now available on any device with internet access. That could mean a PC, laptop, console, smartphone, tablet or even some wearable tech.
If you want to know the insider info on how to play online gaming to the max in 2023, then read on.
Bonuses and Offers
First of all, every gaming platform on the planet wants to pique your interest and wants you to play their games. Some developers can provide better titles than others, but one perk which many established and trustworthy services use to entice new customers is a sign up bonus or another welcome offer. As the name suggests, they are usually only available to new players, which makes them the perfect perk if you’re getting into online gaming for the first time.
The iGaming sector often utilises these types of offers. Reputable brands like PokerStars Casino will provide new customers with a sign up bonus in order to get them started. Online slots are the most popular form of casino game on the internet at the moment, and so it makes sense that established platforms will award free spins as an incentive to play. You can try out popular titles for yourself and see what your preferences are before deciding to make a deposit in order to continue playing.
Freemium Titles
If you’re brand new to online gaming, then freemium titles are the perfect choice. These games usually contain optional paid elements where you can upgrade weapons, armour, maps and more. However, the crucial point is that you don’t need to spend any money at all to play them. It might sound like a bad business idea, but the freemium model has led to some of the world’s most popular and successful games going global.
Look at Fortnite, Minecraft, and Valorant, for example. Even those who aren’t gaming fans will have heard of at least one of these because they have grown to be some of the most profitable titles in history. Minecraft currently boasts over 140 million active users per month, and Fortnite can claim an average of over 230 million monthly players in 2023. It’s safe to say that any newcomer will find enough about these games and many other freemium titles to spark a lifelong love of gaming.
Crypto Gaming
Cryptocurrencies and blockchain tech are a growing sector which many people are talking about but not everyone understands. Luckily, you don’t need to know all the ins and outs of it to start playing crypto games. Most titles in this genre are pay to earn (or P2E), with the objective being to earn cryptocurrency or NFTs (non-fungible tokens) through in-game activities. Many popular games like Crypto Kitties and Axie Infinity offer the chance to buy, generate and trade creatures in order to grow your portfolio and amass more cryptocurrency in-game. The trick is that any currency and NFTs earned then retain their value out in the real world.
Although this is still a developing sector, it does show promise and further developments are appearing all the time. The accountability and security offered by the blockchain means that we are likely to see things continue to progress in this area over time. For now, it’s a good place to get involved and have fun if you feel interested in a novel way of online gaming.