In the world of entertainment, many pieces of media serve as a reflection of society offering glimpses into potential futures or echoing current events in imaginative ways, and that includes videogames.
Surprisingly, there have been instances where the speculative fiction of gaming somehow manages to foreshadow real-world technological advancements or societal events. From predictive algorithms to global crises, we've compiled five bizarre, curious, and sometimes even obvious instances where games seemed to predict the future.
Predictive algorithms for surveillance
One of the most disturbingly accurate predictions comes from the 2012 polarising RPG Watch Dogs. Developed by Ubisoft, this open-world action-adventure game revolves around a hacker named Aiden Pearce navigating a hyper-surveilled Chicago.
Similar scenarios have occurred in real life, especially with users worried about data privacy and government surveillance, Watch Dogs anticipated the rise of predictive algorithms and the ethical dilemmas surrounding mass data collection. ExpressVPN's article on 12 Sci-Fi technologies echoes that sentiment and indirectly explains how the game foresaw the presence of surveillance in urban environments, which has been a hotly debated topic in recent times.
Virtual and augmented reality
Long before the widespread adoption of virtual and augmented reality technologies, science fiction games were envisioning a world where these immersive technologies became integral to daily life. You might even say Google, Tesla, and more took inspiration from the likes of Deus Ex.
Released in 2000, the first Deus Ex predicted the mix of human biology with cybernetic enhancements and the use of augmented reality for information dissemination.
Global pandemics and bioterrorism
The notion of a global pandemic seemed like a distant, dystopian concept until recent years. Sure, there have been times when a virus has become widespread news, but never to the degree of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Games like Resident Evil have long depicted scenarios involving deadly viruses and widespread outbreaks. Originally released in 1996, the Resident Evil series has continuously explored themes of bioterrorism as well. In particular, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerabilities of global healthcare systems, causing it to become an even greater issue, which parallels the events that eventually doomed the iconic Raccoon City.
Social media influence
New titles like the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 (or even recently released ones such as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth) will have a lot to say about the role social media influencers play on society, with a heavy emphasis on the bizarre antics they can get up to, but few games have actually predicted their power.
The influence of social media and the proliferation of fake news have become, sadly, defining features of the digital age. Interestingly, the 2016 game Orwell offered a somewhat foresighted commentary on these issues. Tasked with surveilling citizens' online activities, players navigate a world where information is weaponised and truth is subjective.
Climate Change and environmental catastrophe
As concerns about climate change continue to escalate, many will look towards video games as inspiration to explore the potential consequences of environmental degradation. A classic that's become relevant amid the release of a new version FF7 Rebirth, Final Fantasy 7, originally launched in 1997, featured a storyline centred around the exploitation of the planet's resources by a powerful corporation, the Shinra Electrical Company, resulting in ecological devastation.
This narrative resonates with modern concerns and ever-present concerns about climate change and how corporate greed could eventually doom us to a similar future. For all its quirkiness and other-wordly elements, Final Fantasy 7 underscores the capacity of video games to engage with more complex and relatable social issues. And the fact that it did it over 30 years ago makes it a compelling story even today.