QA Game Testing Trends for 2023

Do not index

As the gaming industry continues to grow and evolve, quality assurance testing has become increasingly important in ensuring that players have the best possible experience.

In 2023, we can expect to see a number of trends emerge in the realm of quality assurance testing, all aimed at improving the functionality, usability, and overall enjoyment of games.

Here are the gaming QA trends we’re looking forward to:

Easy-to-navigate Interface

One of the trends that is expected to gain traction in 2023 is the importance of an easy-to-navigate interface. As more and more players are introduced to the world of gaming, it is essential that they are able to easily understand and interact with the game. A user-friendly interface can make all the difference in whether or not a player becomes fully immersed in the game or becomes frustrated and stops playing. To ensure that their games have an intuitive and straightforward interface, game developers are likely to place a greater emphasis on user experience testing, which involves testing the game with a diverse group of players to see how they interact with the game and identify any issues or areas for improvement. A study by the Nielsen Norman Group found that redesigning user interfaces based on user testing can substantially improve usability. In four case studies, the median improvement in overall usability was 165% from the first to the last iteration, and the median improvement per iteration was 38%.

Integrated use of Artificial Intelligence

The implementation of artificial intelligence in games is also expected to be a trend in quality assurance testing in 2023. As AI technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more games incorporating AI elements such as non-player characters that are able to adapt and respond to player actions in real-time. Testing the functionality and behavior of these AI elements will be critical to ensuring that they are able to seamlessly integrate into the game and provide a realistic and enjoyable experience for players.

Scaling up and down to meet fluctuating demand

Although not a new trend, gaming companies will put a lot more emphasis on flexible work models that will allow them to better meet fluctuating demands. One way is by using gig workers to provide flexible QA testing resources. By doing so, gaming firms can quickly add additional QA testers as needed, and then scale down again when the demand for testing decreases. This helps to ensure that the company always has the right level of QA testing resources to meet its needs.

Another way is by using gig workers to provide specialized QA testing skills. Many gig workers have a wide range of technical skills and expertise, and companies can take advantage of this by hiring gig workers with specialized skills to support their QA testing efforts. For example, a company may hire a gig worker with expertise in testing multiplayer games or games that incorporate artificial intelligence. Furthermore, gaming companies can leverage gig workers to provide QA in different languages. This can be particularly useful for publishers that are releasing games in multiple countries and need to ensure that the games are tested and bug-free in every language.

Multiplayer Performance

Finally, multiplayer performance is also expected to be a major focus of quality assurance testing in 2023. According to a recent study conducted in 2022 by the Entertainment Software Association “85% of players play video games with other players online” (up from 77% in 2021 and 65% in 2020). With the rise of online gaming, it is increasingly important that multiplayer games are able to handle a large number of players simultaneously without experiencing any issues. This will involve testing the game’s server infrastructure, as well as the game’s ability to handle high levels of traffic and prevent any issues such as lag or connectivity problems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the trends of quality assurance testing in the gaming industry in 2023 are likely to focus on flexible testing teams, easy-to-navigate interfaces, multiplayer performance, and the implementation of artificial intelligence. By paying close attention to these trends and investing in thorough testing methods, game developers can ensure that their games are of the highest quality and provide a truly immersive and enjoyable experience for players.