Augmented reality burst onto the scene in 2016 with various hugely popular mobile offerings. These titles brought digital elements to life in the real world, highlighting the potential for the technology.
With major advances in AR over the last few years, it looks set to be mainstream before 2030. This could be a game-changer for card games, which would benefit greatly from new AR elements. These could include animations and other innovative features that help spice them up.
Augmented Reality Set for Mass Adoption Before 2030
According to the latest projections, the AR industry is set to be worth $597.54 billion by 2030. Up to this point, most people who have interacted with AR applications have done so through their smartphones or tablets. However, there is now more of an obvious push towards headsets that allow people to see digital elements superimposed on their surroundings.
One of the greatest leaps forward in recent years is the Apple Vision Pro, which is a mixed-reality headset offering a blend of virtual and augmented reality. Users can easily interact with digital apps that appear in front of their eyes. Apple has a history of boosting emerging technologies, and the iPhone could be credited with kickstarting the smartphone boom. There’s a strong chance that the Vision Pro could have the same effect on the AR industry.
Other innovative companies in the field of AR are focusing on lightweight headsets and glasses. There are various options to choose from, each with its unique features. For instance, the RayNeo X2 Lite glasses use face tracking to translate foreign languages, and the Xreal Air glasses can project a 130-inch theatre screen. As the tech in these devices improves, more people are likely to jump on the AR trend and make purchases.
AR Could Add New Elements to Card Games
When AR hits the mainstream, it’s highly likely that card game developers will enhance their offerings with the technology. Poker is one game that has always progressed thanks to digital developments, with the online poker boom of the 2000s being a prime example of its potential for evolution. Poker is popular online thanks to the additional tools at players’ disposal, such as the poker cheat sheet that tells them which hands are the strongest. It’s handy to quickly reference it to double-check that a full house beats a flush for instance.
AR could bring some of these online aspects to real-world games. It could help beginner poker players by announcing the best hands when everyone has revealed their cards. If the players were wearing AR glasses, the various hands could be highlighted to let players know what they have. In other games, such as Hearts, AR could be used to keep track of the score after each round. There’s even the potential for fantasy card games like Magic: The Gathering to come to life in the real world with the help of AR.
There’s no doubt that augmented reality has the potential to enhance card games in the real world and bring in digital components that have never been seen before. The technology could even lead to innovative card games that make use of animations and other cool computerized features.