When it comes to the world of fantasy and popular media, the ninja is a true enigma. Often humble and unknown, ninjas hide in the shadows and stealthily take down anyone who gets in their way. The allure and mystery surrounding such ancient warriors has meant that they have featured heavily in pop culture over the years. The late 1980s and early 1990s was a time awash with ninjas dominating our television screens and so it was only natural that they ended up making their way into the video gaming landscape. After a handful of very playable gaming efforts, ninjas fell back into the shadows and bided their time until their next foray into the mainstream. Thankfully, that time now seems to be upon us once again and ninjas are slowly but surely making a comeback in the video gaming landscape.

 A Quick Look at the Archives

It’s fair to say that those of a certain age will be struggling to remember any meaningful ninja related gaming efforts. With this in mind, it’s worth briefly delving into the annals of history to see what makes a good ninja video game. The most obvious place to start is Shinobi III, which was released in 1993 for the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive.

Before SEGA waved the white flag in the console war, they developed an entire series of Shinobi games, with the third installment widely considered to be one of the company’s finest ever efforts. The gameplay has stood the test of time, the graphics are still brilliant and protagonist Joe Musashi still has some of the best special abilities we’ve seen from a ninja. As per https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/, the year 1998 saw the release of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, which delivered another masterpiece by using renowned martial artists Sho and Kane Kosugi for motion capture. As tributes to Ninja Gaiden go, The Messenger is also well worth a mention and is still regarded as one of the best indie games of all time.

 In Contemporary Gaming Culture

A big part of the public’s newfound interest in ninjas relates to the streamer of the same name, who found fame and fortune over at Twitch. Those who are keeping up with the latest news on that front will already be aware that Ninja (real name Tyler Blevins) has recently left Twitch for Microsoft’s Mixer streaming service. However, Ninja is still the name on the tip of many tongues within the gaming landscape and whether subconsciously or not, this is certainly helped reignite mainstream interest in the stealthy assassins. 

 

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The 21st-Century Ninja and Beyond

Despite the fact that the game has never made it to Japan, Assassin’s Creed is a ninja based game for all intents and purposes, save for the armor and specific costumes. And we all know just how popular that franchise has become. The stealth-based element of Assassin’s Creed is precisely what ninjas are famed for, and it is this skillset that has catapulted ninjas back into the gaming mainstream.

Last March saw the release of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which was undoubtedly one of the most difficult ninja based games the video gaming industry has ever seen. However, the title was so well received over at sites such as https://uk.ign.com/ that it already features regularly on countdowns listing the best ninja based video gaming efforts of all time. Now that the wider public once again has a taste for stealthy, surreptitious activity, 2020 will see the release of Ghost of Tsushima and Cyber Shadow, both of which already look to be two of next year’s most anticipated games. 

 Gung-Ho Is a No-Go

Many modern-day video games and first-person shooters require the player to kick down the door and go in all guns blazing, which is fine. However, if franchises such as Splinter Cell have taught us anything, it’s that a stealthy approach brings with it a great sense of achievement. And this is precisely why we love ninjas so much within the gaming landscape.

Sure, blasting people with your SMG is a lot of fun but now and again, it’s nice to use the element of surprise to take someone out. Thankfully, it seems that our love affair with ninjas is well and truly back on and as a result, we are hoping that this will bring with it a spate of enjoyable games relating to our favorite stealthy assassins. 

As any industry connected to a technological progress, iGaming is always changing and evolving. Online casinos are popping up left and right, while suppliers are conquering new markets every day.

Speaking of markets…

…more and more countries are changing regulations in order to open the door for regulated internet gambling. The habits of players are changing, so are their needs and consequently, upcoming iGaming trends.

What was once considered an edgy and engaging game, is now outdated and slow.

In order to accommodate the requirements of their patrons, gaming suppliers are using all disposable resources for enhancing products.

But…
…where exactly are they heading?

With so many different types of players, it can be hard for providers to pinpoint the right course.

However:

There are some trends that gamers agree upon and wish to see realized in the future:
More providers in USA markets

• Bitcoin casinos on the rise
• Better mobile gaming experience
• Virtual Reality
• Holograms

Upcoming iGaming Trends – Breach to the USA Online Gambling Markets

With the rising popularity of online casinos, U.S. lawmakers are eager to turn a profit and create regulated markets for this industry. In some states, this transition has been smooth, while others still hold strongly opposing attitudes delaying the legalization process.

Last year, the Supreme Court of the United States finally lifted the ban on sports betting, which was believed to be one of the first steps to legalizing all types of gambling across the board.

New Jersey was one of the first states to legalize online gambling, and is now reaping the rewards in the form of tax revenues. Other states like Delaware and New York followed in its footsteps, with more states behind them, such as Pennsylvania that opens its market in July of this year.

By striking a deal with PlaySugerHouse for sportsbook and casino in New Jersey, Rush Street Interactive can now offer its portfolio to Americans, along with other reputable suppliers.

While the breach to the USA online gaming industry is in full force, the estimations for the future see more providers on the markets and better availability of diverse gaming products to consumers.

More Online Casinos with the Crypto-Currency Option

The rise of cryptocurrencies back in 2017, forced casinos to add digital money among payment methods.
It is a recent trend that online platforms reluctantly accept. Still, there are more and more venues that offer this gateway, so it seems like cryptocurrency will finally take its place under the industry’s sun.

The major issue with this currency…
…is the origin of funds and its implementation that does come with some implications for the industry. Blockchain (the information system that powers cryptocurrencies) has been criticized for the very thing that makes it so attractive to users – its anonymity.

Many regulators have laws in place requiring verification of the source of funds to prevent money laundering – which does not allow for anonymity. U.K. Gambling Commission, for example, takes this issue very seriously and has imposed harsh penalties on operators who don’t follow these rules.
So far, there isn’t a widespread solution.

However…
…blockchain and cryptocurrency gambling have enough advantages to become wildly popular and at the same time, profitable.

While there’s been a word about banning this currency as the payment method for online gambling, the estimation shows its wider usage in the future. It can help revolutionize the industry, but it will require regulatory administrations across the world to create new suitable laws.

Nevertheless…
…cryptocurrency as a payment method for the majority of online operators is one of the upcoming gaming trends, according to statistics.

Improvements in the Mobile Playing Experience

Players are choosing platforms they can enjoy both at home and on the go. It is exactly why mobile casino popularity is on the rise. In order to adapt to this new demand, virtual venues have to optimise platforms and make them compatible with all devices.

However…
…many casino apps regularly experience glitches, crashes and slower interface. This year, we have witnessed a change in this trend with extraordinary mobile versions.

With fierce competition, platforms are investing a lot to adapt to the changing market and offer players a great mobile experience.

Punters want an online casino that has excellent desktop platform, and a mobile version that matches the same quality and features. With the progress of technology, brands have improved immensely with regards to the cross-device functionality. It is one of the trends that will surely continue on in the future, as a big focus point for the operators.

Virtual Reality

While virtual reality games are already present, it is predicted to be one of the upcoming iGaming trends in the following years. Releases of this type have unlimited potential, but at the moment, VR gambling lacks in many areas, especially the graphics capabilities compared to the ones for consoles and PCs.

On the other hand…
…could technical features manage to catch up in the future, it is likely we will see a massive jump in VR games due to the highly realistic experiences it has the ability to give gamers.

Developers are aware of this trend and working on incorporating VR as a way to allow gamers to walk around a virtual casino in order to gamble, as opposed to playing the standard flash games.

Furthermore…
… this technology is extremely versatile, with games like bingo having the real chance of being upgraded to a new level.

Holograms

While this upcoming iGaming trend might be a year away, it does attract the interest of players. Hologram technology as been evolving for the past few years, but it has yet to make its way into the world of gaming.

Players do have the ability to access games on the go these days, but they are confined to the desktop or mobile screens. Screens at portable devices are usually small, which does take away from the feeling of live casino experience.

On the contrary…
…holograms are effective in providing a lifelike experience. With 3D glasses, there is a possibility that holograms could find their way in this international market. It will revolutionaries iGambling and provide players a highly immersive experience.

It seems that the future brings very exciting changes, according to the upcoming iGaming trends. Some of them are already in motion, while others may need a longer time to develop. Nevertheless, it seems we can look forward to a more enhanced playing experience in the years to come.