6G wireless internet is coming. Here’s what it means for mobile gamers.
Mobile gaming experiences are like items on a fast-food menu; we want them quick and consistent. With this clamor for speed and consistency has come the demand for better internet connectivity and data streaming capabilities.
Many forms of cellular connection technology have tried to position themselves as the solution, but let’s face it; technology gets better with time, with innovations trumping their predecessors. While 3G was once a big deal, it’s no longer relevant in any discussions of speed or reliability.
Indeed, we’ve got the red-light-running speeds of 5G wireless network technology. However, while nobody will disagree that it trumps 4G by leaps and bounds, it will also become obsolete with time. It’s difficult to say exactly when, but its descent into obsolescence will come with the unveiling of its next iteration — 6G.
6G promises to revolutionize the gaming industry, enabling mobile gamers to have experiences that will rival those of consoles. Find out more about what 6G will do for mobile gamers once it becomes available to the world.
But First, 5G
According to Statista’s latest figures, at least 3.5 billion users are still on 4G networks. With 6.5 billion cellular network users, that leaves 5G to fuel all of the gaming and streaming of the remaining three billion. 5G is the cellular network that powers the high-demand online activities for almost half of the world’s online user base.
5G has yet to reach the mass adoption 4G enjoys worldwide. Nevertheless, 5G improves upon its predecessor in more ways than one, including its record-breaking download and upload speeds. 5G’s connectivity speeds can typically reach anywhere from 214 to 250 MBPS. In South Korea, 5G speeds are at their peak, clocking in at an impressive 438 MBPS. At these speeds, mobile gamers can download games in minutes and enjoy consistent in-game speeds with little to no downtime. These features are crucial, especially with the rise of simultaneous gaming and streaming.
5G boasts high-speed connectivity, unparalleled by its past cell network predecessors. With this in mind, however, what would 6G look like?
6G and Improved Mobile Gaming Speed: 5G on Steroids
6G has yet to make an appearance, with the earliest batches of its satellites launched in late 2020. As the world braces for 6G, there has been much speculation as to how it will compare to 5G. For the most part, the most predictable improvement will be in its speed. 6G’s projected speeds are astonishing; while 5G tops the charts at as much as a gigabyte per second, 6G should be able to deliver hundreds of gigabytes per second.
This improvement alone can have a massive impact on mobile gaming. Due to the increase in connectivity, mobile gamers will have little to no problems with lag, which is especially useful for those who play mobile games competitively. This will also be a boon for mobile gamers who stream their games live on platforms like Twitch, making 6G a must-have for anyone trying to break into the social scene of mobile gaming.
Granted, 5G already enables this, making 6G seem to be less of a necessity. This is compounded by the fact that even 5G has yet to reach mass adoption, with less than half of the online community using this connection. With this in mind, one has to ask:
“What else can 6G offer?”
The answer lies in the concurrent emergence of one other gaming innovation — augmented and virtual realities.
AR, VR, and 6G: Real-Time Interaction That Resembles the Real Thing
AR/VR technology has been touted as the next evolution of gaming, mobile or otherwise. With the nascent developments in the Metaverse, it may not be long before AR and VR gaming become the norm.
AR/VR technology is not a new concept. In fact, the earliest prototypes of VR headsets and controllers appeared in the 1990s. While it’s curious that this technology is only making a return after nearly three decades, the reasoning is twofold. On one hand, it can be argued that AR/VR technology never truly left, it was simply favored in other uses requiring simulation. Some examples of non-gaming uses include training for medicine, flight, and driving. In these cases, AR/VR technology has truly thrived in enabling hands-on education without the risk of real-world experience. However, these were partially able to thrive only because they were not dependent on interconnectivity. This brings us to the second reason for AR/VR technology’s “return”.
Mobile games, as well as Metaverse games, add a social dimension to gaming experiences. In modern games, mobile gamers tend to communicate with each other vocally instead of through chat boxes. This creates a desire for immediate feedback from other players with the facilitation of a fast wireless connection. This is where fast cellular technologies like 5G and 6G come in; by guaranteeing faster wireless internet connection speeds, 6G enables players to interact in real-time. The faster speeds and lack of interruptions help simulate the immediacy of real-world interactions. In short, AR/VR technology’s return to gaming is being facilitated with the help of 6G.
An Ecosystem Conducive to Mobile Commerce
Faster connections are a godsend to an increasingly interconnected world. With better wireless connection speeds, mobile gamers can experience easier and more seamless in-game transactions. 6G’s speed and reliability will leave interrupted connections and lag time in the past, creating more trust and immersion among online users.
This trust can materialize in the usage of mobile commerce apps and in-game purchasing platforms. Even with 4G and 5G alone, we’re already seeing increased trust in digital transactions. With the speeds and reliability that 6G promises to deliver, we can only expect the world’s levels of faith in the Internet of Things, the Metaverse, and even DeFi to grow.
Future-Proof Your Mobile Commerce Now
Whether 6G comes out in the next few years or not, one thing is certain: as connection speeds increase, so too will the number of mobile gamers. With the growth of mobile gaming comes a new, relatively untapped market — but only for those who are in the know.
For technology that bridges the gap between games and mobile commerce, we’re here to pave the way. Secure your future in mobile gaming and mobile commerce.
Sources:
https://www.statista.com/topics/3447/5g/#dossierKeyfigures
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1168435/average-5g-download-speed-in-selected-countries/
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/china-launches-worlds-first-6g-experiment-satellite/2034321