Watches with games were once considered a curiosity, but wristwatch games are now being taken seriously by developers. Imagine being able to play Fortnite on your watch? Or, perhaps playing casino games at a live online casino? Now that would be a great gift.
Only a few years ago, the rationale for smartwatches was not obvious. There is now a myriad of high-quality wearable devices to choose from, and a few key players have risen to the top of the heap.
Even still, some people wonder whether smartwatches are worthwhile. You’ve probably already deduced that the answer is yes if you’re reading this.
By 2026, the global market for smart wearables is expected to reach 776.23 million devices shipped. Wearables are quickly becoming the most popular IoT gadget, as users desire to be connected in whatever manner possible.
Apple, the world’s largest smartwatch manufacturer, continues to rule the business. Still, as more capabilities are introduced to wearables, the entire market is set to shift dramatically.
The demand for wearables among today’s increasingly connected customers has fueled the market’s growth. The need for better smartwatches has been driven by internet connectivity, data-driven analytics, technological integration into daily activities, and changing lifestyles.
In addition, the gadgets themselves are reasonably priced, with manufacturers maintaining a competitive pricing strategy.
Companies are beginning to search for their next growth phase as the wearable tech market matures as there’s only so much they can do in the fitness and athletics industry. This is why developers have started to delve more deeply into the gaming sector.
Any gadget the size of a smartwatch is unlikely to contain much hardware. The majority of a smartwatch’s features are coupled with a considerably more powerful smartphone. To make standalone apps like games compatible with the limited processing capacity of smartwatches, developers have cut them down to the most basic functions. Thanks to the ubiquity of low-cost gaming consoles, even a child would not be blown away by the graphics of a wristwatch game nowadays. This is one area where developers will look to improve things.
Because of its constraints, creating a game for a smartwatch is difficult. So it’s no surprise that, despite the growing popularity of smartwatches, the online market for smartwatch games is still quite limited. So at present, don’t expect to play an MMO game or a game with an intriguing tale on your smartwatch using current technologies. However, we expect this to change within the next couple of years as this market begins to grow and blossom.
Another stumbling block is around battery life. Many of today’s wearables, especially those that demand a lot of computing power and Internet connectivity, have short battery life. As a result, several developers are looking into other battery options. Energy harvesting, which converts body heat, solar energy, and even movement into power, is one of the most prevalent approaches.
It would be a game-changer if this became the norm for wearables. Users would no longer have to worry about the battery failing at inappropriate times or needing to recharge devices regularly. Wearables could become even more popular in the future if these issues are resolved, and prolonged gameplay will be possible.
It might be a while before you put anything like this on your wrist, however. Scientists say they hope to bring the technology to market, but they don’t know when this will be. Nonetheless, there may come a time when your smartwatch’s battery life is effectively endless.
While it is too early to anticipate which features or form factors will be popular in the future, wearable technology is an exciting topic to research. Never before has gaming been tiny enough to be worn on the body comfortably, creating chances for innovation in this field. Thanks to the advancements mentioned in this article, we’re getting closer to making the smartwatch gaming experience better than ever.
Speaking with gaming watch manufacturers, programmers, developers, and gamers, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of a much larger interest in smartwatches, and it’s easy to see why. The watch finds itself in an enviable position as technology grows and the need for quick feedback, online sociability, and micro-entertainment grows.
Conclusion
Smartwatch technology has been around for quite some time, but it’s only recently become popular with the general public. As the concept of wearable technology has become more widespread, companies have begun experimenting with different ways to bring people interactive and engaging experiences outside of the home or office, including smartwatches that can connect to gaming consoles to provide in-game information and even remote control of your experience. While this innovation may seem like it’s geared toward hardcore gamers, there are plenty of other reasons why you might want to invest in one of these next-generation gaming smartwatches – and they start with the price!
