Augmented & Virtual Reality: The Differences and How They are Adopted in the Gaming World

With the introduction of player-focused technology, it appears that every aspect of our lives is constantly changing. Incredibly, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) have brought about an unimaginable revolution in the gaming industry. What is Augmented Reality (AR)? Augmented Reality (AR) emerged as a creative and immersive experience that enables players to feel satisfied after interacting personally with the digital environment. AR is the combination of game visuals and aural content in real-time with respect to the player's environment, which helps to create an artificial environment. "Pokémon Go" is one of the most advanced AR games to date, bringing Pokémon into the real world. The player interacts with this new, augmented form of reality by using their smartphone to observe the real world in front of them. While searching for Pokémon, players can use the game to explore a new metropolis or even parts of their own city they have not visited before. What is Virtual Reality (VR)? Virtual reality (VR) is a technology for simulating an environment. VR enables players to enjoy the finest of the artificial world. Instead of observing the screen, the player is immersed and able to interact with the 3D worlds. It stimulates all of the senses, including sight, hearing, touch, and scent. The computer technology serves as the artificial world's gatekeeper. Nevertheless, everything comes with a few restrictions, such as limited content availability and a lower range of computing capacity. The primary component of virtual reality is the head-mounted display (HMD). The introduction of virtual reality is revolutionary for the gaming industry.  It offers attractive virtual objects and the ability to immerse the player in real-time gameplay, among other advantages. AR vs. VR: The Differences AR and VR somewhat utilize the same technology, but for different purposes:

• AR imitates artificial objects in the real world, whereas virtual reality constructs an artificial world to explore. Using 3D graphics, augmented reality overlays computer-generated images onto the player's view of the actual world. Computers utilize sensors and algorithms to determine the orientation of a camera, making this feasible.
• VR technology utilizes a player's eyes to locate them within the simulated environment, as opposed to using actual cameras within the physical environment. This indicates that if the player rotates their head, the graphic will respond accordingly. VR technology provides a convincing, interactive environment to which the player can react.

How AR and VR Revolutionize the Gaming World Both AR and VR technologies have advanced significantly since their introduction, and are generally considered to be the future of gaming. Below are the aspects that AR and VR are expected to make great progress:

• The introduction of Metaverse: Having a virtual space and engage with others across the internet is nothing new. What is new, however, is being able to do that in 3D environment.
• 3D gameplay: The previously-introduced 3D films did not last long due to the costs and audience's interest. However, recent games with AR/VR like Pokémon Go and Beat Saber have garnered a gigantic fanbase, paving way for the new 3D gaming era. Some game genres will benefit greatly from this, and horror games (like Granny) will immerse players with extra scariness.
• Real-life interaction: AR is best known for merging the real and virtual worlds, creating a surreal experience for the players. The ability to combine digital information and real-time will prove to be a game-changer for game developers.
• Change in lifestyle: Not only has the evolution of AR and VR made its way into the gaming industry, but also the lifestyle itself. AR and VR interactions have been adopted by industries such as medicine, tourism, education, and entertainment in order to improve the customer experience and increase traffic. This is a prevalent strategy that is slowly garnering consumer interest. In addition, these technologies are shifting gamers' lifestyle from being stereotypical couch potatoes to more active and engaging individuals.

Bottom Line AR and VR have revolutionized the gaming industry and the world as a whole. These technologies contribute to the creation of a realistic image, as well as sound and other stimuli, in order to provide a fictitious setting that stimulates the player's physical presence in the environment. With the progression of time, there are a great deal more options for gamers to explore.