Gamers have become a broad church, so to speak. Players range from Candy Crush casuals and Pokémon Go pilgrims to "big-screen" desktop and console gamers.

With AR, gaming has taken on a new meaning. "All the world's a game" – a sandbox of (im)possible worlds superimposed on our own. 

There's no doubt that AR gaming is a proven concept. Developers are adopting the software post-haste and the technology is now part and parcel of the gaming industry. 

Smartphone-based AR gaming is leading the charge, because of its low cost and ease of access, while AR headsets and glasses have been slower to filter into the market. 

The technology has enjoyed mainstream success thanks to Ingress and the hugely popular Pokémon GO (both by Niantic). As a result, consumer interest is on the rise. 

What challenges does AR face?

Niantic has yet to replicate the success of Pokémon GO. After Launching Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in June 2019, the company shut it down in January 2022. Some have suggested the title was underperforming relative to expectations.

Speculation aside, there are still segments of the gaming community that are not altogether convinced by the current state of AR gaming. A 2019 report conducted by Ericsson ConsumerLab found that four out of 10 AR gamers wanted a more "immersive experience", and one in three disliked mobile phones but "embrace[d] mobility".

While AR headsets clearly offer a more immersive experience, for some they present a cost-of-entry barrier. However, the report found that seven out of 10 AR gamers were excited about the potential of the technology and agreed that it will be a key component in the future of gaming.

The participants of the report expressed several improvements they wanted to see moving forward:



• 38% wanted more advanced gameplay
• 36% wanted more efficient battery usage 
• 36% wanted cheaper AR glasses
• 32% wanted to play AR games without holding a phone or tablet

The "paradox" highlighted in the Ericsson report between users wanting advanced gameplay and mobility but not wanting to use phones reinforces the need for more affordable, gamer-friendly headsets. A tell-tale sign, perhaps, that AR games will soon break free of their relatively underpowered smartphone hosts.

So what's the future of AR gaming?

"Outside of people who are working with AR, the general consumer really has no idea what AR is. What people know as AR is Pokémon Go." – Alex Lieu, Chief Creative, Animal Repair Shop

AR gaming and the metaverse

AR technology is supported by a wide range of applications inside the metaverse, including avatars, NFTs and – of course – gaming. In the years to come, businesses, hardware companies and game developers will drive the evolution of the metaverse through AR and VR. 

This is clearly signposted by Niantic's recent purchase of WebAR platform 8th Wall. The merger combines 8th Wall's WebAR metaverse capabilities with Niantic's powerful Lightship VPS (Visual Positioning System) – a comprehensive 3D map of the world, enabling layers of augmented virtual content to be anchored seamlessly throughout our lived reality.

For developers, the aim will be to create immersive ecosystems of social connection, commerce, work and entertainment. If you're wondering what this has to do with gaming, read on.

Gamification 

Gamification isn't new. The technique was used as far back as 1896. Businesses use the principles of gaming (challenges, rewards and so on) to increase engagement and promote loyalty. Simple.

In the metaverse, however, gamification comes into its own, allowing brands to leverage AR to create immersive games built around real-life retail experiences. Take the use case of Microsoft's Minecraft Quest as an example.

At the start of 2023, players of the game used their smartphones to access the Minecraft Quest website. From there they were sent on a "scavenger hunt" around Big W stores (Australian Woolworths) to find point-of-sale signs, which they then scanned. Upon scanning, they were presented with an AR portal in which hidden gems could be found.

The project demonstrated how AR gaming can complement retail and business while providing an enjoyable, dynamic user experience. Big W reported boosts to their SKU sales as a result and the game hosted over 12,500 users over 30 days. 

5G

But what use is all of this if your internet connection isn't up to speed? The big changes in AR are just around the corner, but developers can't flex properly if the bandwidth is restricting movement. 

Now that 5G's coverage is beginning to pick up, gamers will begin to see AR's true potential. The lift in speed will mean users can confidently explore augmented environments without interruptions in image rendering or the risk of being disconnected.

5G uses high-frequency bands, such as 3.5ghz (known as "C band") that can transfer large amounts of data, fast. The downside to these frequencies – and the reason they've not been used in the past – is that they don't travel very far and struggle to pass through buildings. They require a lot more infrastructure to support wide coverage and the signal strength is limited indoors. 

Because AR gaming uses the built environment to overlay virtual images, it's primed to benefit from 5G's super-fast coverage. Gamers using headsets will be able to roam far and wide, enjoying stable and secure high-speed network connections. 

The improved performance will see the evolution of multiplayer AR games and AR capability per se, creating shared interactive AR experiences across devices. 

Conclusion

The future of AR gaming is very exciting indeed. Some of you may be feeling a little impatient – and that's understandable. There are lots of moving parts and, to take us forward, they all need to come together at once. Hardware, software and networks are the three key areas to follow. 

With Apple's Reality Pro glasses slated for a June release, 2023 is going to be a big year for AR. A rising tide lifts all boats – and the tech giant has a reputation for bringing the best out of its competitors. 

Watch this (augmented) space. 

Ready to advance to the next level? Check out our extended reality products from companies like Microsoft, Magic Leap and Vuzix – or get a taste of our technology with a free XR tech demo.