Sport has always been a popular theme for video games, and horse racing enjoys a strong share of that market. The first title in this genre was released in 1980, and like many of its counterparts, the graphics were quite basic.
Those options have improved throughout the history of horse racing video games, and the choice is much greater now than ever before.
In the wider context of sports-themed games, horse racing has traditionally received less attention, but there are many reasons why interest has grown in recent years.
Growing Together
While horse racing has been around for centuries, there are some who still consider it to be a niche sport. Perhaps that’s because many people who follow racing are also having a bet on one or more events.
Throughout the horse racing season, there are major events across the world, and individuals may look for Grand National, Epsom Derby and the 2024 Kentucky Derby odds. More recently, sports lovers are enjoying racing because of the spectacle, irrespective of whether they have placed a bet on the race.
This is largely due to the rise of TV broadcasting worldwide, and more events are now shown live. Viewers are enjoying horse racing as a great spectacle in its own right, and that’s one of the key reasons why interest in themed video games is growing.
Get Real
Like all sports-themed video games, horse racing titles have benefitted from improvements in technology. The original releases were basic in terms of sound and graphics, while steady improvements were made through to the early 2000s.
Sports fans want realism in the modern day, and the developers of horse racing games have worked hard to meet those demands. Walk in on any gamers today and you could be forgiven for thinking that you’re watching a real-life race on TV.
That element of realism is now essential in titles such as Starters Orders and Stable Champions. Any developer looking to break into this competitive genre needs to make those games as lifelike as possible.
Greater Choice
The list of available horse racing games is increasing, and that’s another reason why the theme is becoming more popular. As people become more interested in horse racing as a sport, developers have to be quick to meet demand.
There are more games available now than ever before, but there is room for improvement. The big players in the industry, such as EA Sports have yet to fully embrace this sport, despite the fact that there is definite interest from their customers.
There is work to be done, but the increase in titles from other producers has helped to raise awareness for horse racing titles.
Extended Coverage
Horse racing games also need to reflect the global appeal of the sport. It’s fine to cover the most iconic venues such as Epsom Downs or Aintree in Liverpool, but modern titles need to extend beyond the traditional courses in the UK.
Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby, and the Flemington Racecourse which showcases the Melbourne Cup in Australia, are just two of the worldwide venues that modern games need to cover. That extended coverage ties in with more extensive TV broadcasts, and it helps to grow the sport alongside increased interest in the games.
The Future is Here
Sports video games are enjoying a boom period, but the developers cannot afford to be complacent. Producers will consider new technologies and look to see how they can be applied moving forward.
The biggest challenge for those developers is to implement virtual reality and augmented reality into their titles. Games are already providing that element of realism, but these technologies promise to take things to the next level.
Virtual reality has been around for decades, but It’s only recently been able to realize its potential for individual consumers. Previously, equipment was prohibitively expensive and headsets were not always user friendly.
All that is set to change, and the benefits for sports gamers are obvious. VR and AR have the capacity to take players right into the heart of the action. Before, those gamers were bystanders, watching on as they controlled their players, but they are now set to become more involved.
Along with other sports, horse racing games are set to benefit from the rise of virtual reality titles. The aim for all players is to ‘be there’ as far as is possible, and these new technologies promise to elevate the element of realism.
The future looks to be positive for horse racing video games, while the industry is already enjoying a boom period. Many factors have combined to raise interest in the sport among gamers, and the choice of titles has never been wider.
At the same time, the advent and implementation of new technologies, leave us with an exciting future and even more growth for the sector.
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