The future of tabletop games is digital

polygon.com:

The year is 2032, and the tabletop landscape is composed far more of ones and zeroes than cardboard and plastic. With the advancements in VR technology and virtual tabletop services, digital versions of games have officially overtaken physical games as the predominant method of play. Commercial AR and VR displays have become cheap enough to be a common site in many homes. It has become expected to release digital versions of all physical games, with the occasional release going so far as to include a digital redemption code in a physical box. More and more games are being released thanks to the reduced costs of creating digital games, allowing for small studios to find success. All of this is due in no small part to practices and events over a decade in the making.

What is it about these digital alternatives that is so enticing to players? If you have sat around a table with some friends for a game night, you understand the draw and energy that can come from playing in person, but even the most die-hard in-person proponents would concede that playing in person has its drawbacks too, drawbacks that playing digitally does away with! First and foremost, gone is the annoyance of having to pack everything back up at the end of the day, and on the flip side setup can be far easier and quicker as well. Booting up a program or loading a mod is nicer than dealing with shuffling, board setup, and organization, and removes a lot of the hassle that can be a complete deal-breaker when wanting to play games in person.

The biggest benefit is the flexibility that comes with the digital options. Distance no longer becomes a barrier, and in some instances timing becomes a nonissue as well, as you can take your turn whenever you are able