• Visitors try out the massively multiplayer online role-playing game 'World Of Warcraft' at the Blizzard Entertainment stand at the Gamescom 2016 gaming trade fair during the media day on August 17, 2016 in Cologne, Germany.

Visitors try out the massively multiplayer online role-playing game 'World Of Warcraft' at the Blizzard Entertainment stand at the Gamescom 2016 gaming trade fair during the media day on August 17, 2016 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo : Getty Images/Sascha Schuermann)

The gaming industry is one that never seems to slow down. Technology advances at such a rapid rate it means that the whole landscape of the industry is constantly evolving as it moves with the times.

We all know there has been a growing trend in the popularity of mobile casinos and this has been reflected in the continued success of renowned mobile casino brands like mFortune.

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Each year brings with it new, groundbreaking trends that are set to take the world by storm, and 2018 is no different. So which gaming trends should we be looking forward to over the upcoming months?

Wearable, or smartwatch technology is certainly a trend to keep an eye on over the coming months. It can be argued that it hasn't really delivered in the popularity stakes since it first became mainstream technology, but as time has advanced, wearable tech has started to improve dramatically.

Smartwatches have become ideal for those who enjoy gaming on the go, which is a concept that most established mobile casino brands, will most likely incorporate as part of their overall service. In fact, the technology is developing at such a rate that now there is no need for anyone with wearable tech to go reaching for their handset, as they can quickly fire up a slot game or two on their watch; wherever they are and whenever they like.

Another trend to look for is eSports. However, apart from the obvious, that its rise to the fore has been truly stunning; it is really the increasing reach this sport holds that is the interesting trend. So that now, what we're witnessing is a global phenomenon that is taking countries by storm, including the UK, USA and now China.

Furthermore, we're now seeing developers producing games that are geared towards eSports. Battle Royale modes are now becoming one of the most popular ways to play games, with titles such as Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battleground loved by gamers. These sorts of games also have the ability to make it as eSports titles too, and not only that, they are now debuting on mobile.

Finally, another aspect of gaming to keep your eyes on is streaming. What has been integral in some ways to the rapid growth of eSports is streaming. Gamers who aren't playing games, are now opting to watch others play as a form of entertainment. Streaming has been great for not only promoting games, but for developing communities and allowing eSports events to be broadcast live. As things stand, Twitch is the biggest streaming platform around, but their title could soon come under threat from Google.

This has been underlined by Google making their first foray into the streaming market by adding a live feature to YouTube. This has given them a share of the streaming market, but they aren't content with just being a bit part player. They are now looking to spread their streaming wings even further and have now made a move into the Chinese market as they attempt to become the world's number one streaming platform.

This is definitely a trend that we should look forward to, with Google now heavily involved with Chinese streaming service, Chushou. Streaming is huge in the gaming world and it's also big for eSports too. With so many people now becoming broadcasters themselves or regularly enjoying watching streams, it's another industry that is set to grow over the course of 2018 and beyond.