How HTML5 lit the blue touch paper for casual gaming

This year, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of HTML5, the fifth iteration of hypertext markup language (HTML), the programming language used to power the applications and web experiences on the internet.

It was a game-changer for the world of casual gaming. Prior to HTML5, game developers and players were regularly constrained by the need for resource-hungry plugins such as Adobe Flash to power browser-based gameplay. These plugins weren’t just a drain on a device’s resources, they were also a security hazard. Despite periodic updates to these plugins, they were easily manipulated.

Yet HTML5 arrived on its metaphorical horse to revolutionize the gaming scene, delivering a streamlined, mobile-first approach to all forms of content consumption.

Apple’s lack of support for Flash was its death knell

When Apple took the bold and brave decision to withdraw its support for Adobe Flash plugins on its smartphone devices, it was the beginning of the end for Flash. Apple did so because they could see what was coming down the track: a new kind of programming language, capable of operating web applications within browsers, without the need for external plugins.

The implementation of HTML5 has since dramatically slashed the security risks of browser-based gaming, as well as mobile-based gaming, while transforming load times and broader performance. HTML5 has enabled audio and animations to be clearer and crisper, creating more immersive gaming environments on any screen.

Fully responsive gaming experiences

The mobile-first nature of HTML5 is what ushered in a new era of casual gaming. This type of gaming is meant to be quick, easy and instantly engaging – ideal for short bursts of entertainment, be it the early-morning commute, at lunch breaks or even relaxing at home in the evening. This ease of access allowing casual gaming titles to flourish and become the fabric of popular culture in the mid-2010s.

The iGaming industry followed suit by adopting HTML5 to overhaul its online slot portfolio. It was an opportunity for online casino operators to tap into a new demographic of player. The beauty of HTML5 is that it means online sites no longer needed to design and build native apps for mobile play. Although some online casinos still went ahead with iOS and Android apps, the likes of NetBet casino have been just as successful focusing on their browser-based web applications. It doesn’t matter whatever screen resolution or size you visit on, the platform will evolve to provide the most optimal user experience.

What’s the roadmap for casual gaming?

There’s no doubt that HTML5 has laid a firm foundation for casual gaming’s future. It’s fast becoming a behemoth in this interconnected, digital-first world. Developers are now leveraging new HTML5 APIs to incorporate even more immersive gaming experiences, including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). The key being to ensure the technology stays relevant to meet the needs and demands of the modern casual gamer.

Some may be waiting to see what HTML6 has in store, but they’ll be waiting a long time. It’s been ruled out by WHATWG, the gatekeeper of the internet’s markup language used to structure and display content on the World Wide Web. Instead, WHATWG is preferring a Living Standard approach, incorporating new elements and features incrementally to maximize the potential of today’s modern web technologies.