Why The Shift to Online Gaming Has Hurt Gamers

Many gamers see the change from local multiplayer to massive online gaming as a natural step in the progression of game technology. In many ways, this is true. Just a few decades ago, the idea of people coming together online to play complex games was a pipedream. Today, it’s a pretty normal concept. However, this shift to online gaming has not come without its own consequences.

To be clear, online gaming in itself is not a bad thing. In fact, online games can help connect people from all over the world. But, like most things, it comes with a few downsides. Most importantly, it has caused a lot of hurt and frustration to millions of casual and hardcore gamers alike. So, in today’s article, we are going to discuss how and why the shift to online gaming has hurt gamers.

Gamers Have Less Incentive to Be Social In Real Life

If you have been gaming for more than a few years, you have likely noticed the shift from more local coop games to more games that only offer online multiplayer. This shift has helped keep game prices down while making game developers’ lives easier, but it has also made local multiplayer gaming a thing of the past (for the most part).

This has made many gamers less social in real life. Without the option to play with friends in person, many gamers opt to play with friends (or strangers) online instead. This can cause many gamers to stay at home for longer periods of time, only interacting with others through the games themselves. Not only can this cause unhealthy social behaviors, but it can also lead to a sedentary lifestyle.

A sedentary lifestyle can cause a wide range of health problems, from obesity to bunions. If this has happened to you, you may need to speak to your doctor about associated health complications or the experts at Northwest Surgery Center about getting bunionectomy surgery.

Fewer Games Support Local Coop

As previously mentioned, many game developers are abandoning local multiplayer entirely. This means that there are simply fewer options for gamers who like local coop games. For example, a married couple looking for good coop games will find that the options are extremely limited. Sadly, it seems that online gaming has displaced local multiplayer for the foreseeable future.

Poor Internet Is Now a Barrier to Entry

The gaming industry has advanced much faster than most major ISPs. As of this writing, many gamers in rural areas still have to rely on slow internet connections through satellite internet or mobile hotspots. These options make online gaming extremely difficult and, in some cases, impossible. As a result, rural gamers or gamers without access to high-speed internet cannot enjoy many of the games that others can. This barrier to entry makes online gaming all the more frustrating for people who have little power to change the quality of their internet. Hopefully, as ISPs grow their networks and more indie games hit the market, some of these issues will resolve themselves. Only time will tell.