Everything you need to know about 5G Gaming

With AMD's new Threadripper processor unveil, as well as the Playstation 5 and Microsoft xCloud announcements, it seems like the next-gen of gaming is knocking at the door. As the hardware world is gearing towards greater heights, manufacturers are quickly preparing for this whole other world of connectivity that 5G gaming is promising. Videogames are often cited as one of the biggest benefactors of this new wireless technology, but what exactly can we expect from 5G gaming in the near future? Continue reading and find out everything you need to know about 5G gaming.

What is 5G Technology?

Before we dig deeper into the topic of 5G gaming, it's essential to understand what 5G is and how it works. To put it shortly, 5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology. Like its predecessors, 5G uses a system of cell sites that send data through radio waves at certain frequencies. It aims to improve mobile data speeds by a significant margin compared to its predecessor, 4G. By offering enhanced speeds with lower latency, 5G promises to offer network connections as much as 100x faster than 4G.

The global-wide deployment of this technology has already begun in 2019. Korea and China are the first two countries that have started implementing 5G, with the latter already deploying over 100,000 base stations as of December 2019. In the US, all four major carriers have introduced some form of 5G wireless technology. Although the technology behind 5G is still in its early stages, this year's results look more than promising, especially for tech buffs who like to keep up with the latest trends.

Advantages and Disadvantages of 5G Gaming

As is the case with any new tech on the market, the general public feels both excited and wary of what it could bring to the existing gaming industry. After numerous years of speculation, misleading and unclear information, we can finally clearly examine what 5G gaming is all about. With that in mind, let's take a look at the main pros and cons of this technology.

Biggest Pros of 5G Gaming Technology

While it's still early to think up all of the possible ways this technology could enhance the user gaming experience, there are certain things on which this next-gen internet tech will definitely have an impact right from the very start. Here are just some of the areas we think 5G technology will have the biggest impact on:

• Improved VR Experience – Virtual reality is without a doubt, the future of PC and console gaming. While it has been steadily rising over the past few years, it still hasn't managed to shine to its full extent. The main reason behind this is the lag. In view of this, with a 5G gaming network, you could cut down the latency time for VR headsets and enjoy more immersive virtual gameplay. This would also automatically mean better graphics, as game developers could rely on the 5G gaming market for stable revenue.
• Further Growth of Mobile Gaming – Nowhere would 5G gaming technology be more beneficial than at mobile games. Although there are many FPS and RTS games already available on mobile devices, they are just bland and stripped-down copies of their PC and console counterparts. With 5G, mobile game developers could create games with many more features and better graphics, which would be streamed through the Internet from the game data center instead of being installed on the mobile device.
• Unlimited Potential for Cloud Gaming – Several companies have been developing their cloud gaming platforms for quite some time now. Even though the ambition "PlayStation Now" hasn't exactly set the market on fire, other promising projects like Google Stadia show how this concept could work on a large scale. With 5G technology, cloud gaming could support even the most demanding games such as Call of Duty, Far Cry, and many others.

Possible Cons of 5G Gaming Technology

While there are a few drawbacks of the upcoming 5G gaming technology, the pros undoubtedly outweigh the cons. The biggest potential issue with 5G gaming technology would be the stress it would put on devices running it. The current battery technology and design simply aren't strong enough to support a full day of activity on a 5G network. This means that smartphone companies will also have to adapt and innovate their products to keep in touch with this 5G.

Another thing that can pose an issue in the beginning period could be the lack of widespread coverage. While it's highly unlikely that people in big cities will experience this, those living in remote areas will likely have to wait for some time to enjoy 5G technology to its fullest extent.

We still can't fully know every detail surrounding 5G until the technology is fully implemented, the buzz it has been generating over the previous period is certainly a good sign that it will bring something revolutionary for the entire IT industry.