Live streaming has changed the way we consume entertainment, but are there still big changes to come or is the version of streaming that we see now as good as it gets? By looking at some of the current trends and possible future advances, we can get a feel for how much this technology could change our lives.
The Possibilities of VR and the Metaverse
The ability to live-stream action onto our screens has helped to make various types of entertainment more immersive, but there is possibly more to come in this respect with virtual reality (VR) and the metaverse yet to make the expected impact.
An example of how live streaming has transformed an existing industry can be seen with the Paddy Power live roulette games. Their collection of roulette titles with live human dealers covers a range of rules and features, with the action coming alive on the screen. Live-streamed from a land-based studio setting, they allow players to watch the game get played in real-time while placing their bets online.
The level of interaction with the dealer and other players is one of the key aspects here, but it seems certain that the VR and the metaverse could take this a step further by letting us feel as though we’re inside the casino. This could also apply to other types of entertainment, as we could be transported to the place where a TV show takes place or to see the latest news reports from where the events are taking place.
We’ve already seen this sort of approach taken at sporting events, with an Italian Serie A game featuring AC Milan vs Fiorentina last year becoming the first football game shown in the metaverse, with the chance to chat with other fans and collect the virtual merchandise on offer. The fact that it wasn’t a huge success suggests that work is still needed on this subject but we can certainly expect to hear more about this in the future as an alternative way of watching sports.
Watching Entertainment Together
The recent failure encountered by Netflix when live-streaming a show reunion highlights how this industry is still evolving. They admitted that they had unwittingly introduced a bug when trying to improve their system, so we can expect to see some changes and bumps in the road in the near future as the technology is perfected.
However, there are already apps such as Twoseven and Syncplay that allow us to watch live streams while interacting with friends or other viewers. Like the metaverse, this is a sign of how live streaming could soon be a bigger part of our lives as it becomes a more important element of the entertainment industry.
All of this shows how online entertainment is becoming more interactive, with live streaming playing a huge role in getting this right. There are still some new features and changes to come but the recent advances give us a taste of what is to come and make us excited about the prospect of seeing how live streaming expands our entertainment options.
