Sports and gaming are two of the world’s most popular industries, without question. So it is only natural that they are coming together more and more. Specifically, hybrid platforms that combine the two are going through the roof recently.
This has a number of interesting different manifestations, each of which continues to evolve in its own way. And with every passing year, these hybrid platforms are becoming more sophisticated and more innovative. When the sports casino first appeared online, it laid the foundation for an explosion in combined sports and gaming innovations.
Phygital sports
That’s right, this is an actual term. And it is one that is becoming more and more widespread among the general population. The meaning is exactly what you would think: platforms that combine physical sports with digital competitions, either virtual or online. Competitions can become complex, even involving multi-step stages.
Phygital competitions usually involve two major components:
- A digital or virtual contest between players
- A real-life contest that uses a combination of digital skills and physical abilities.
Phygital sports involve many traditional sports, such as football, basketball, and hockey.
Hybrid-causal games
Another growing trend is known as “hybrid-casual games.” These are even more complex ideas than phygital sports. Hybrid-casual games combine different elements of modern games together:
- They incorporate elements of hyper-casual games, which are easy video games that often involve only simple physical actions
- They also utilize additional meta elements, such as narratives and themes from well-known shows or other media
- They aim to gain as many users as possible and increase revenue for parent companies
Archero, survivor.io, and Clash Royale are examples of games that utilize both hypercasual elements and more sophisticated technology.
Hybrids specifically based on new technologies
There are also technologies contributing to new hybrid games and items that are growing in popularity among many people. These include:
- Wearable technology. Athletes can use a variety of small, uninhibited wearable devices to monitor performance and health metrics and ultimately improve their games.
- AR for athletes. More and more athletes are taking advantage of AR as a training mechanism. Many people find that it is an excellent addition to their standard training regimes.
- AI for different aspects of training. AI is being used in many different ways to enhance athlete performance and also in gaming. Just as athletes use AI to analyze and optimize their performances, so too are games starting to use it to tweak their programming, personalize user experience, and upgrade content.
Popularity and features are growing
Hybrid sports-gaming platforms are still only in their infancy. Their standout features—such as leaderboards, social events that surround them, and the complex systems upon which they are based—are fueling the development of even bigger and better ones.
As this development grows, an increasing number of people worldwide are itching to take part. These platforms are also growing in commercial value for their developers through ads and players making in-app purchases. What the future holds for this unique genre is yet to be seen, but it will surely be innovative and social!