Top 5 tech roundup — May 2022

Continuing our Top 5 Tech series, we look at some of the most innovative technologies that are making waves in the industry.

The gaming space is one of the fastest-growing markets in the US, worth over $85 billion at the end of 2021, and that number continues to grow. With new offerings of seamless photorealistic graphics and immersive in-game realities, it is no surprise that the market is booming. This monthly round-up focuses on the tech that is driving this growth.

1. Epic Games: Unreal Engine 5

With the highly anticipated release of Unreal Engine 5 finally upon us, Epic Games’ most advanced engine yet introduces new key features, including the next-gen real-time rendering tool, Lumen—a fully dynamic global illumination solution that enables artists to create stunningly believable scenes where indirect lighting adapts on the fly. This means that developers will be able to create game environments that are more life-like than ever before.

2. Microsoft/XBOX: Cloud gaming

Traditionally, gaming requires expensive hardware. This usually comes in the form of gaming PCs, the latest Nintendo, Xbox, or PlayStation consoles. Cloud gaming has revolutionised the need for physical and often costly consoles, making the gaming world more accessible than ever before. Available via monthly subscription services, similar to the likes of Netflix and Prime Video, cloud gaming services are on the rise, with Microsoft revealing this month that more than 10 million people have streamed games on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

3. Imagination Technologies: Mobile gaming

Among the many innovations revealed at GDC this year, Imagination Technologies announced their next generation of mobile gaming graphics capabilities using the Open 3D Engine – an open-source, real-time 3D engine. This is a huge step in showcasing how enhanced ray tracing performance can enable developers to accomplish desktop quality graphics for mobile gamers.

4. Epic Games x Lego

A collaboration we didn’t know we needed…until now! Epic Games and the LEGO Group have partnered up to make gaming in the metaverse a child-friendly environment. The two companies will team up to build an immersive and family-friendly digital experience to make the metaverse a safe space for all ages.

5. Square Enix and NFTs

The Japanese gaming giant, Square Enix (SE), which owns the Final Fantasy franchise is delving deeper into NFTs and Web3. This announcement follows their decision to sell the Tomb Raider franchise for US$300 million earlier this month,  in an effort to push considerable resources into the integration of NFTs within its ecosystem of games.

The future of gaming tech is very exciting. From virtual reality to cloud gaming, these technologies are shaping the future of video games and with so many innovations on the horizon, we are eager to see where things are headed.

Stay tuned for our monthly tech roundups. In the meantime, head over to our other tech blogs.