I don’t need to tell you that videogames are closely tied to technologies. Each pixel, moment of audio and moment of interaction are testament to the mediums’ technological connection. Over the past half a century, gaming has evolved alongside the computing technologies which make it possible—often supercharging public interest or feeding back into new discoveries.

In this article, we’ll look at 10 moments where gaming history was changed by the introduction of new technologies.

1. The Birth of Home Computing (1977)

While video games find their origin in computer labs at universities, and found their first home as standalone arcade cabinets in arcades  and public spaces across the world, one of the most impactful innovations in gaming’s early years was the birth of home computing. The introduction of home computers like the Apple II and Commodore PET brought computers into the home environment, allowing players to enjoy, share and play with them for hours on end. These machines totally revolutionized the style and possibilities of gaming—moving away from the round or life-based approach established in arcades and paving the way for longer form content.

Of course, it would be a mistake to label this birth of home computing as an increase in accessibility. If anything, it was the opposite—at least in the early years. Computers back in the 1970s and 1980s were cripplingly expensive, so were only accessible by the upper and middle classes—if that.

2. The Nintendo Entertainment System’s Revival (1985)

Games consoles were different, though. Games consoles were the devices which broke down the barriers to accessibility. Casting their net wide, games consoles were aimed at general audiences. While there were plenty of consoles before the NES’s release in 1985, the NES is incredibly important. This is because the NES was released in the wake of the video game crash of 1983—the moment where the entire industry fell to its knees. The NES sought to overcome this challenging time by issuing new quality control, innovating on the controller and ensuring high quality games on the platform. 

And, well, it goes without saying that they managed it—considering that the NES is still one of the most well respected classic consoles to this date.

3. The 3D Graphics Revolution (1996)

Rendering technologies took a while to innovate. That’s not to say that early games were ugly. Many of their wireframe, 2D and sprite-based worlds are iconic, and fondly remembered by players. However, when rending technology allowed games to make the jump to 3D, it was big news. Games like Quake and Mario 64 left a huge splash, and we have never looked back since.

4. Online Gaming Goes Mainstream (2004)

While computers and the internet are practically inseparable today, this wasn’t always the case. The introduction of the internet really did change the game when it came to video games. Not only did it liberate multiplayer from couch coop and LAN competitive scenes, but it inspired the creation of many unique experiences which would shift the gaming landscape. World of Warcraft is one of the most legendary titles in this regard—becoming the first MMO to break into the mainstream.

5. The Mobile Gaming Revolution (2007)

The release of the iPhone changed everything—not just in the world of gaming, but everyday life as a whole. But for gaming, it introduced an entirely new format. While the touch screen responsiveness and fantastic display were in part responsible for this, it could be argued that the app store was the real catalyst. This provided a single, unified storefront where users could distribute or download games—something which was much more cumbersome before 2007!

6. Motion Control Innovation (2006-2010)

The best selling console of all time was the Nintendo Wii. And for good reason. It took the cryptic buttons, bumpers and analogue sticks of traditional gaming controllers and turned it into something more human. Motion controls became a huge hit with all demographics. And while the focus on motion controls didn’t last, it certainly left its mark on gaming history.

7. Virtual Reality Breakthrough (2016)

The launch of the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive marked VR’s transformation from a pipe dream to a consumer reality—sparking a new wave of adoption, development and excitement about the technology. We’re still living through the wake of this today!

8. Augmented Reality Integration (2016-Present)

While VR takes centre stage when it comes to the frontier of gaming, we can’t forget augmented reality. Given, many of AR’s most useful and exciting functions run tangential to gaming. But we cannot down-play the importance of Pokémon GO and the AR craze in the wake of 2016. Grab some Pokemon Go PokeCoins and relive those golden years of AR—you won’t regret it.

9. Cloud Gaming Emergence (2019)

Services like Google Stadia and Xbox Cloud Gaming sought to totally revolutionize how games are played—leveraging cloud technologies to redirect game processing away from the consumer to allow top-tier gaming on any device. While this dream is still yet to be fully realised—especially considering the discontinuation of Google Stadia—we are sure to see more of Cloud Gaming soon.

10. Ray Tracing Goes Mainstream (2020)

While it may be a buzz-word that publishers have used to sell their games, there’s no question that Ray Tracing has changed the potential for creating 3D worlds. In short, ray tracing is a method of simulating the bouncing and scattering of light as we see it in the real world. When used right, Ray Tracing is a key element that has brought graphics  even closer to reality.

While gaming history is littered with technological innovations, the rate of such innovations is only speeding up. So we are sure to see many more milestones leave their impact on gaming before the end of the decade.