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With the much wider availability of internet today, streaming content across the internet is gradually becoming the norm. No longer are we tied to cables, set-top boxes or satellite dishes for our entertainment. Almost any form of media content you may want to view is ready and easily available on the World Wide Web – and today we’ll be focusing on one such form of entertainment.

When video games first gained popularity in the 80s and 90s, the only possible way to play a game you wanted was to buy the physical disk. If stores ran out of disks, you’d be pretty much out of luck. Fortunately, digital distribution solves that problem today. Even though there’s still no replacing a physical game copy in your hands, there’s also no denying that digital storefronts make games far more accessible for everyone.

The digital age of the 2010s has further evolved with the explosion of streaming. Livestreaming video games is one of the fastest growing new industries in the world. Platforms like Twitch.tv gives anyone with a computer the ability to stream to a public audience online – and their content is consumed by millions of eager watchers. It may sound strange that there are people who want to watch and potentially spend money on video game livestreamers, but it’s a simple fact that people like to be entertained. If you spend a lot of time online chances are that you like gaming, and if there’s someone on Twitch who’s streaming your favourite game while also being an excellent presenter, you’ll likely want to check out their content. In essence, watching streamers on Twitch is no different from trying out different shows on Netflix.

Besides Twitch, other big video game companies are also eager to get a pie of the current digital gaming revolution. Sony, Microsoft and Google have made big strides to make streaming games easier. This is where you use an internet connection to play whichever game you want on whichever device you want. If your internet is good enough, you could play console and PC games with the best graphics on an old smartphone. Game streaming doesn’t use local hardware to run games – it instead merely displays the output on any screen you choose. This form of streaming is still in its infancy and is mostly limited by the internet bandwidth available to players globally. Once internet infrastructure catches up, any device you own ranging from TVs, smartphones, smartwatches and anything else with a display could run any game you want without having to spend more on consoles or expensive PC parts.

The invention of the internet has provided us with endless opportunities. Especially in recent years where internet access is becoming more central to our lives, it’s good to see more of these opportunities explored. Fortunately for us, consumer choice for online entertainment can only get more varied as time goes on. 

About the author: Maldivian Gaming League is a team of e-sports organizers and competition promoters based in the Maldives. For more information, check them out on Facebook or Instagram.