15 Video Game Innovations That Changed the Way We Play

For decades, the video game industry has been defined by one thing: constant innovation. Video games have evolved dramatically, and gamers have game developers and manufacturers to thank. But what are the most significant innovations that changed the way we play?

I've been a gamer my entire life, and this is my list of the most significant video game innovations that changed things forever.

1. The Jump to HD

I can't understate the importance of the visual jump to high-definition to millions of gamers. With the introduction of the Xbox 360 in 2005, playing the latest titles in gorgeous 720p resolution was a breath of fresh air.

Thanks to the upgraded resolution, gamers could enjoy immersive visual clarity for the first time. Almost overnight, games were more vibrant, detailed, and, most importantly, more fun. I'll never forget how quickly my jaw dropped the first time I officially played in high-definition.

2. Multiplayer by Design

In the industry's infancy, the concept of multiplayer gaming consisted of passing a single joystick back and forth at worst and playing Pong with two rudimentary controllers at best.

The introduction of true multiplayer gaming as a selling point for home consoles marked a shift in how we played video games. The original Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis had two controller ports; the Nintendo 64 had four. This accessibility changed everything.

3. The Handheld Revolution

The Nintendo Gameboy, released in 1989, ushered in a video game revolution. That's the understatement of the century, actually. Nintendo made handheld gaming affordable and popular with the release of their ubiquitous gray console, and the company still has a stranglehold in the market over 35 years later.

Playing video games on handheld systems felt like living in the future in the late 1980s. To be honest, it still invokes the same feelings today.

4. Virtual Reality

For as long as I can remember, the allure of virtual reality gaming has been tantalizingly hanging over my head. While the world hasn't fully dove into VR gaming, many companies have tried, to varying results.

Nintendo gave it a good shot with the Virtual Boy in 1995, but the device was far too cumbersome to be truly immersive. Sony fared far better with the relatively recent release of PSVR (and its sequel). Still, the fact that companies are dedicated to capturing the spirit of VR sooner than later tells me it's an innovation that will constantly improve.

5. Online Multiplayer

Once upon a time, cramming on a couch with your friends for an exciting session of GoldenEye 64 was the pinnacle of multiplayer gaming. Thankfully, gamers have come a long way since then.

Services like Microsoft's Xbox Live transformed the industry, making massively multiplayer games possible for the first time. Hundreds of like-minded gamers could compete against each other through the magic of broadband internet. It was (and still is) glorious.

6. The Advent of Esports

Speaking of competition, the advent of esports pushed video games and gamers even further into the mainstream in a significant manner. This innovation opened up the world of competitive gaming to the masses. It made the profession of “video game streamer” viable for many men and women.

Making money by playing (and especially being good at) video games seems like something that should have existed since the beginning of the industry.

7. Near-Perfect Arcade Ports

During the '80s and '90s, arcade games were of such high quality (in both graphics and sound) that porting them over to home consoles was impossible. However, thanks to advancements in home consoles like the Nintendo 64, arcade-perfect ports of games like Killer Instinct and Cruisin' USA were finally possible.

Playing arcade-quality hits was a pipe dream for many gamers, but fortunately, they were finally able to play their favorite arcade games at home, which is a trend that continues today.

8. Loot Boxes and Microtransactions

Whether you love or hate them (most likely the latter), loot boxes and microtransactions are arguably the most innovative advancements in video game history. Making certain game features hidden behind paywalls and monetizing multiple aspects of the gameplay experience was controversial, but nevertheless, it's here to stay.

I despise loot boxes. They're designed to separate gamers from their money in the most laughable, addictive way possible. Still, I must admit they're one heck of an innovation.

9. Advanced Sound Chips

Every old-school gamer knows how fantastic it felt to experience 16-bit sound for the first time. Before the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo were released, in-game sound was a ho-hum affair. It wasn't exciting. Everything sounded like a 1980s Duck Hunt game.

16-bit sound meant everything sounded fuller, more immersive, and more entertaining. Of course, that was the tip of the iceberg, as sound chips would become even more advanced over time.

10. The Pivot to Disc-Based Media

One of the major downsides to Nintendo's legacy cartridge-based video game format was the cost. Making games for Nintendo's systems in the '80s and '90s was prohibitively expensive for developers. However, everything changed when Sony entered the arena with the PlayStation in 1995, armed with CD-based games.

Disc-based media could hold far more data than a cartridge. In addition, full-motion video and (obviously) CD-quality sound were also possible. It's one of the most underrated innovations in gaming history.

11. The Rise of Mobile Gaming

Ten-year-old me would have never dreamed of having the ability to play fully-featured video games using a cell phone. The rise of mobile gaming is one of the most significant innovations in industry history because, in all honesty, it felt like a leap that was perennially too far away.

While advancements like handheld gaming were innovations in their own right, playing video games using the same device you work on and communicate with is genuinely game-changing.

12. Good, Old-Fashioned Competition

It's a story as old as time: competition breeds innovation. The video game wars among developers, publishers, and manufacturers have been going at it for decades, and thankfully, gamers are the winners in this situation. Sega made Nintendo better; today, Sony makes Microsoft better. Nobody wants to be left behind.

Ultimately, the race to be the biggest and the best leads to better video games; who would say no to that?

13. Nintendo Going Mainstream

After Atari's spectacular collapse in the '80s, it looked like the video game industry would never recover. Families were hesitant to buy home consoles. Of course, one company came to the United States and changed everything: Nintendo.

Nintendo's mission was straightforward: bring family-friendly video gaming to every household in the country. The concept worked. Thanks to the strength of its Nintendo Entertainment System and characters like the Super Mario Brothers, Nintendo went mainstream and never looked back.

14. Streaming Services

If you're over 40 years old, it's jaw-dropping to think how quickly the video game industry has evolved over time. Who would have thought millions of gamers worldwide could play the latest titles via streaming services? Whether you play on Nvidia Now on PC or subscribe to any of the home streaming offerings by Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft, it's a great time to be alive.

Lightning-fast internet speeds and cloud computing power have advanced enough to make all this possible.

15. Motion and Gesture Controls

Admit it: when Nintendo released the Wii in 2006, you were jealous of anybody who owned the console. Thanks to its revolutionary motion-tracking controllers, video games were far more immersive than they had any right to be nearly two decades ago.

It's shocking that, almost 20 years later, there haven't been any significant video game-related shifts in the motion-tracking world that would elevate the innovations for home consoles even further.