Kinda Funny Gamescast: What Will Gaming Be Like In 10 Years? (2035 Edition)

Release Date: May 22, 2025

In this insightful episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, hosts Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye, and Andy Cortez delve deep into the future of the gaming industry, projecting trends and developments that could shape gaming by 2035. The discussion is rich with predictions, reflections on past forecasts, and thoughtful analysis of current industry movements.

1. Reflecting on Past Predictions

Greg Miller opens the conversation by referencing the podcast's 10-year anniversary, revisiting their 2015 episode where they speculated about the state of gaming in 2025. This retrospective sets the stage for evaluating how accurate their previous predictions were and what they might anticipate for the next decade.

• Greg Miller (07:06): “Last week, the impossible happened. We hit the 10-year anniversary of the Kinda Funny Gamescast.”

2. Dominance of Nintendo

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Nintendo's anticipated continued dominance in the gaming sector. The hosts agree that Nintendo's strategic choices, particularly with the success of the Switch, position them well for sustained leadership.

• Andy Cortez (10:24): “I think that Nintendo is going to continue to remain dominant and I think that their level of domination is only going to increase.”

Greg Miller echoes this sentiment, highlighting Nintendo's unique position and questioning their future console iterations.

• Greg Miller (10:28): “What's hilarious is when we go back to watching and talking about 10 years ago, we kept talking about the NX. We didn't even know what Switch one was yet.”

3. The Rise of PC and Cloud Gaming

Snowback Mike and Andy Cortez discuss the burgeoning landscape of PC and cloud gaming, predicting a shift where PCs become more favored, especially among younger gamers who seek flexibility and a broader selection of games beyond console exclusives.

• Snowback Mike (10:58): “A piece of me thinks that we'll see a rise and more of a push towards PC gaming.”

Tim Gettys expands on this by emphasizing advancements in cloud gaming platforms like Nvidia GeForce Now, foreseeing a future where gaming is seamlessly integrated into various devices without the need for dedicated consoles.

• Tim Gettys (13:37): “I think we'll see a huge push [for cloud gaming], and multiplying that by 10 for the next 10 years.”

4. AI Upscaling and Game Development

The conversation shifts to the impact of Artificial Intelligence on game development, particularly AI upscaling, which promises to enhance game graphics and performance beyond current capabilities. Tim Gettys envisions AI enabling high-fidelity graphics and more efficient game production processes.

• Tim Gettys (17:47): “AI upscaling is going to continue to be ridiculous and make the impossible possible.”

Additionally, the hosts speculate on smaller tech companies leveraging AI to innovate within the gaming space, potentially disrupting established players.

5. Augmented Reality (AR) and Wearables

Andy Cortez and Snowback Mike explore the future of Augmented Reality (AR) and Extended Reality (XR), predicting significant advancements in wearable technology that could integrate gaming more seamlessly into daily life. They contrast this with the less favorable outlook on Virtual Reality (VR), suggesting that AR will become more practical and widely adopted.

• Andy Cortez (19:46): “I give it literally two years from now... to have gigantic OLED screens in your glasses giving you any heads-up display stuff that you want.”

6. Evolution of Consoles: The Big Three

The hosts analyze the future of the "Big Three" console manufacturers: Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. They predict that all three will continue to exist but will evolve significantly, adapting to new technological trends and consumer preferences.

• Andy Cortez (21:26): “All three of the big three currently will still have consoles out in 10 years.”

Greg Miller raises questions about potential new entrants and the evolution of existing consoles, considering factors like dual-booting capabilities and cross-platform integration.

• Greg Miller (22:29): “Will PlayStation exist? Will Xbox exist? Will Nintendo exist? I think yes, across the board.”

7. Future of Game Franchises

A substantial part of the discussion focuses on major game franchises and their trajectories over the next decade:

a. Grand Theft Auto (GTA) Series

Andy Cortez expresses skepticism about GTA 6 meeting the colossal expectations set for it but remains optimistic about its overall success.

• Andy Cortez (58:44): “GTA 6 lives up to the hype... in the reality of what we should possibly be expecting from a video game, I do think it's going to live up to it.”

Snowback Mike adds that GTA Online will likely be the mainstay, continually receiving expansive updates and maintaining player engagement.

• Snowback Mike (58:47): “Can GTA Online live up to the hype? I think the answer to that is yes.”

b. Elder Scrolls and Bethesda

The hosts anticipate that Elder Scrolls 6 will strive to meet fan expectations but acknowledge challenges in evolving the franchise's narrative depth and gameplay mechanics.

• Snowback Mike (54:03): “We just want them to grow with us into 2035 and beyond. Will they do that or will they just always be a Bethesda game?”

c. Hideo Kojima and Shigeru Miyamoto

Hideo Kojima is predicted to remain a pivotal figure in game development, continuously creating innovative titles and potentially expanding into other media like film.

• Snowback Mike (69:02): “Hideo Kojima is still making games and we are looking at fizzing two ten years from now and we are getting excited.”

In contrast, Shigeru Miyamoto is expected to retire by 2035, with his direct involvement in game development ceasing, though his influence will persist.

• Andy Cortez (72:09): “Is he still making video games? No, he's moved on to theme parks and movies.”

8. Future of Gaming Events

The role and format of major gaming events like Summer Game Fest (SGF) and The Game Awards are scrutinized. The hosts predict that while The Game Awards will remain a premier event, Summer Game Fest might evolve or split into multiple events to adapt to the changing landscape.

• Greg Miller (63:47): “I think Summer Game Fest is still around. I think Game Awards is still this premier event.”

Snowback Mike envisions a shift away from single, mandatory attendance periods towards more flexible, company-driven event schedules.

• Snowback Mike (65:57): “We don't think we're strapping headsets onto our heads in 10 years off. You know that is right.”

9. The Impact of Generative AI

Concluding the episode, the hosts address concerns about generative AI in gaming. They deliberate whether AI will enhance or detract from the gaming experience, drawing parallels to past technological trends like NFTs.

• Tim Gettys (76:56): “It's gonna keep ramping up. I think it's gonna continue to get its foothold and you'll see more and more people out of jobs.”

Andy Cortez concurs, suggesting a growing divide between creative talents and corporate implementations of AI.

• Andy Cortez (78:06): “We don't want that. We're not agreeing to do anything like that.”

Conclusion

The Kinda Funny Gamescast episode offers a comprehensive exploration of the future of gaming, blending optimism with cautious predictions. From Nintendo's enduring dominance and the rise of cloud gaming to the transformative potential of AI and AR, the hosts provide a multifaceted view of what gamers might expect by 2035. While major franchises like GTA and Elder Scrolls are poised to evolve, the industry must navigate the challenges posed by technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences. As always, the future remains as unpredictable as it is exciting, and only time will reveal which predictions come to fruition.

Note: This summary excludes advertisement segments and non-content discussions to maintain focus on the core conversation topics.