The 2020s could be the year that virtual reality finally becomes a mainstream platform. Along with Meta’s announcement about the Metaverse – a VR world in which people can work, play, and do just about anything – Apple is rumored to be working on a revolutionary piece of hardware.

There are certain games that have managed to endure throughout all the major changes in the industry to date. The question is, how will classic titles adapt and evolve to continue their success during the VR revolution?

What Are some of the Industry’s Most Enduring Games?

When thinking of enduring games, there are a few that would spring to most people’s minds. Tetris, a game invented by Alexey Pajitnov in 1984, is an obvious example. The simple puzzle game was an unprecedented hit at the time of its release, and the Game Boy version sold more than 35 million copies. The game itself in its various forms has been bought more than 200 million times and counting. It’s available on 65 platforms and is the most ported video game of all time.

There are plenty of other legendary titles that have been around for almost as long as Tetris but are not quite as famous. However, some of these are better known among niche audiences. For instance, anyone who played fruit machines in the days before the genre blew up online will have encountered the Rainbow Riches slot from Barcrest. It was one of the most famous offerings of its kind, and because of its notoriety, it was naturally transformed into a digital version when the online casino industry started taking off.

Developers Need to Jump on VR Fast

Developers of games such as these will now be looking at technology like VR and wondering how their titles can be adapted to stay relevant in this new era of gaming. The transition to virtual worlds could represent the biggest leap that the gaming industry has ever seen, and nobody quite knows just how big it could become yet.

There’s a strong chance that players could play these games on virtual devices within a setting like the Metaverse. This would enable them to stay relatively similar to how they exist now, with the only difference being that they’ll become games within other games. Developers will need to jump on concepts like the Metaverse early and get their titles in there fast. This will allow them to piggyback on the craze that is likely to ensue.

The other option would be for developers to massively expand on the ideas in their games and transform them for the VR world. For example, this could result in giant games of Tetris, or slot games in which players stand in front of enormous reels in a fantasy land.

The great thing about VR is that the possibilities for developers are endless. Perhaps they will even be able to create different VR versions of their classic games that can suit a range of different players. Some people may prefer the game within a game option, while others may want something more grandiose with fantasy elements.

Classic games have endured through many changes already, and they will be ready to make big moves when VR becomes the next major platform.

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