Storage sparked revolution in gaming industry

Video games have captured the hearts and minds of millions across the world, captivating both young and old alike. One reason could be the device-agnostic nature of video games, allowing players to enjoy their favorite games on smartphones, PCs, gaming rigs, consoles, and more.
Oddly enough, when discussing the gaming industry’s revolution and its massive appeal to millions, we often focus on game quality, device affordability, internet access, etc. Yet, we overlook one of the most crucial factors that has truly driven this revolution: storage.
As the storage capacities grew across devices, users no longer were restricted to a fixed number of games, as a result, numerous companies, including hardware manufacturers, shifted their focus towards producing a greater variety of games.
The ever-growing demand for capacity:
Today, devices such as smartphones and PCs come with storage capacities that would have been difficult to fathom just a few years ago. Yet, the size of video games also continues to grow at a rapid speed- as technological advancements, unfettered creativity, and huge budgets have made games more lifelike. While the games have never been more engaging- with high-fidelity background sound effects, breathtaking graphics, and intriguing plots and subplots, – they now require massive amounts of storage space to keep up with such advancements. It is no surprise that many gamers face the challenge of insufficient storage space to save and update their favorite games and download more. Lack of storage also interferes with gameplay, deteriorating the experience with screen freezes and stutters.
It is not just about the storage space; another crucial factor is the kind of storage that a gamer needs. Gamers’ requirements can be vastly different from average consumers. They need performance–storage solutions that can actually help elevate the gaming experience. They need innovative, custom-built storage devices that enhance their gameplay. With minimized latency, predictive loading, and adaptive thermals management, gamers can expect an incredible gaming experience with fast load times, rich visual experience, and uncompromising thermal performance.
Storage for every gaming device:
Whichever device a gamer plays on, they also want specialized storage solutions that can help them store their expanding game library and maintain sustained performance while playing. Today, irrespective of what the device of choice is, there are performance-intensive storage solutions available, so gamers can worry less about storage and focus more on the game.
The future of gaming and storage is intertwined
Originally viewed as a children’s diversion, attracting limited attention compared to TV, movies, or music, gaming is now by far the fastest-growing sector of the media industry. The gaming industry is rapidly accelerating and showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. The industry is also attracting and spending huge budgets in developing games, where the budget for AAA-classified games can run up to hundreds of millions of dollars. As the industry keeps producing better and more immersive games across devices, it will continue to captivate gamers across geographies.
The role of storage will continue to grow as the industry as well as gamers want more specialized, advanced storage to help them grow and thrive. The storage industry will have to continue to innovate and introduce solutions to help gamers today and be ready for tomorrow.
— By Khalid Wani, Senior Director, Sales, India, Western Digital