Entertainment has come into its own over recent years, with the advent of new streaming services for music, TV and films making it possible to access almost any content you can dream of in just a few clicks of a remote control button, and online gaming innovations making it possible to fully immerse yourself in online worlds from the comfort of your living room sofa.
As we head into 2023, the question on everyone’s lips is, ‘what’s next for entertainment?’ – and understandably so. Each new twelve month period of late has brought with it a host of exciting new developments, some which just a decade ago would have been entirely inconceivable. As technological innovations continue to advance at lightning speed, it’s an exciting time for the space. Here, we take a look at what’s in store for high-end online entertainment in the new year.
The metaverse
The development of the metaverse has been causing quite a stir over the past twelve months, and understandably so. Set to transform the way we live, work and socialise forever, this new iteration of the internet, which will be a shared and immersive 3D space in which humans interact in real time, isn’t expected to be completed for at least another several years, but as we get closer to it becoming a reality, a growing number of us will be looking to jump on board with the trend.
In the meantime, there are many other virtual worlds that you can already become a part of now, and as technology in virtual reality continues to advance and the field continues to innovate, we can expect to see virtual worlds become a major entertainment choice in 2023.
In fact, the majority of other growing entertainment trends are set to feed off of this one major development, which will fuel some exciting new developments in some of the digital types of fun we already know and love.
Immersive online casinos
A prime example of this is what could lie in store for fans of online casinos. During the global pandemic, there was a dramatic spike in the number of new users signing up to casino sites like FanDuel Casino to get their adrenaline fix remotely while land-based establishments remained closed, and they continue to attract a broad spectrum of players ranging from complete amateur to high-roller alike.
In part, this is down to the technological advances that have already been leveraged to improve the customer experience, allowing gamers to log on and participate in real-time games with live dealers – but as development of the metaverse continues to gather momentum, the experience is set to get even more exciting. Soon, it will be possible to virtually attend games of roulette, poker and other casino favourites and sit or stand alongside other players as you place your eye-watering wagers simply by stepping into the metaverse, and we could begin to see the early stages of this in 2023.
Face-to-face socialising without leaving your home
During the pandemic, there was a sharp spike in the number of people using Zoom and Google Meets to socialise from afar – but all of that will seem archaic before long as social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook enter the metaverse. Posting pictures and videos and leaving typed-out comments could soon become old hat, too, with the concept of social networking taking on a whole new meaning.
Rather than scrolling a feed on your smartphone to see what friends are up to, you could soon be sitting beside them at your favourite bar or restaurant without actually leaving your house, catching up in real time as if you were there with them in person.
If it all sounds a bit difficult to grasp, then that’s because it is – but as the metaverse’s development progresses in 2023, the concept will start to feel more and more possible. Slowly but surely, we’ll see the social media and video calling platforms we frequent begin to innovate and launch new features that are designed to pave the way from where we are now, to where we’ll be when the metaverse is finally complete.
The bottom line
While these are undoubtedly some of the most exciting developments we have to look forward to in 2023, the metaverse is set to bring with it a whole host of new opportunities to enjoy entertainment in new ways, and what we see next year will be just the tip of the iceberg. Just a few years ago, sceptics were dismissing virtual reality as little more than a passing trend, but in less than a decade from now, the way we live, work and socialise – as well as sourcing our entertainment – will have changed forever, and for the better.
