Video games have been at the forefront of the entertainment industry for so long that you are forgiven for assuming their position is safe. After all, Sony and Microsoft have released their respective next-generation consoles recently to great fanfare – it’s reported that 4.2 million PS5 and 2.8 million Xbox Series X and S consoles have been sold already.
However, the number is revealing because it’s lower than experts expected. There are several reasons for this, but one of them is the emergence of other platforms, including bingo. In fact, bingo’s revival is making the video game sector wary of what might happen next. If you want to know why then keep on reading.
A Historical Institution
Typically, historical institutions don’t let their hard-earned grip on popular culture slip easily. Sadly, bingo experienced a reduction in footfall in the 90s and early 2000s, leading many to predict it wasn’t as popular as it was in the 1960s.
Thankfully, the game has recovered to the point where it generated almost £1 billion between 2019 and 2020. That’s a lot of pennies! The internet, bingo’s new platform, has helped to give the format a lease of life that appeals to a wider audience, which is symbolised by the increasing playing figures and the younger player demographics. As a result, many providers can offer value that video games can’t, such as welcome promotions that encourage users to deposit money in return for cashback or free spins on online casino games. The wealth of bingo promotions, for new and existing customers, is a sign of the game’s growing influence over the industry, and it’s causing concern for traditional gaming giants.
Okay, they may not be stressing out just yet, but the fact that this bold and ambitious move is registering on their radars makes the rivalry worth following.
Tapping into Society
Don’t worry because this isn’t a Matrix-style approach to tapping into the mainframe. Instead, bingo is using its format and understanding to broaden its horizons and the horizons of its players. The academics among you will know of MIT, the institute on the east coast of the US.
Well, it seems as if the lab techs are not only bingo fans, but also have plenty of time on their hands because they have developed a type of bingo that teaches people about the importance of artificial technology. If that wasn’t intellectual enough for you, it’s been proven to foster interest in STEM disciplines. Then, there is the impact it is having on promoting health and wellness in older generations, as the video below outlines.
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Video games have always been effective at combining virtual environments will real-world elements, making them culturally relevant. But there aren’t many titles that can boast the influence that MIT’s version of bingo is having on society’s understanding of complicated topics.
The Move to Mobile
Mobile is the future of gaming, and bingo already has a strong base that it is using to ensure its renaissance will be successful. The fact that pretty much every online casino or betting company is searching for more ways to add the game to their libraries is telling.
Another revealing fact is that video game developers and hardware manufacturers are trying to muscle in on the space. For instance, the xCloud is a cloud-computing feature created by Microsoft to enable players to pick up where they left off while they are on the go. It’s already been called the future of the industry.
Of course, it’s only the beginning of Microsoft’s mobile journey. Bingo, on the other hand, is an established online player, one that console giants will have to try and compete with the more the battle moves towards the mobile world.
Bingo isn’t as big as the key players in the video game sector, yet that doesn’t mean it should be dismissed. As the evidence shows, the game’s recovery is making all the right noises.
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