All industries develop and evolve, but the gaming industry has taken it to another level. This industry has progressed significantly in the past twenty years and is today worth a staggering $250 billion. To put that in some context, the music and movie industries have a valuation of $28 billion and $100 billion, respectively.
So, video games are big news, and that’s down, in part, to one handy factor: gaming in its modern form offers something for everyone. That’s a statement backed by the sheer number of gamers. One recent study suggested that there are some 3.3 billion gamers worldwide — and that number is rising all the time. Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons why gaming has become the go-to leisure activity for so many people.
Accessible Devices
Not everyone had a game-ready device in the olden days. And if you didn’t have one, wannabe gamers would have to hope that they lived close to an arcade or casino. Today, you don’t need to purchase an advanced gaming console to play the latest games. You can do so directly from your smartphone. This has greatly expanded the reach of the gaming industry since, well, the vast majority of people — some 90% of the population in the United States — have a smartphone.
Hard-to-Find Games
The internet has made it much easier to find those games that are slightly more difficult to come across via other sources.
A real-world casino, for instance, may offer the standardized version of blackjack, but if a person prefers to play a different variant, then they’ll need to look elsewhere — and the online world can often provide. Digital casinos aren’t subject to the space limitations that their real-world counterparts have to contend with and, as such, can offer an array of variants. Gamers can also play obscure arcade games from yesteryear, usually directly from their web browser. It’s no longer necessary to go to the ends of the earth to find your preferred game. You can find it with just a few clicks of a button.
Extensive Number of Game Genres
People often talk about how there’s such a limited selection of good music these days, and they often say the same about movies, too. No one says it about gaming. More than 14,000 games were released on Steam in 2023. There are more than 450,000 games on Apple’s app store. Whether you’re looking for a hyper-casual game, a complex RPG, or a classic sports game, you’ll find it.
Entry-Level and Pro Gaming Options
The modern gaming world is available to gamers of all levels. Some people could spend all weekend trying to complete the latest games. Others like to delve into the gaming world only from time to time, for example, when they’re on their commute to work. The gaming industry caters to both types of gamers — and everyone who falls in between. Whether you’re an entry-level gamer or a seasoned veteran, there’ll be something for you in the gaming world.
It’s a Social Experience
Modern gaming is about more than just the gameplay. It’s a whole experience.
Many gamers play video games not necessarily because they love gaming but because they love spending virtual time with their friends. The online option offered by most modern games makes it easier than ever for loved ones to stay connected, even if they live on opposite sides of the world.
Video Game Diversity
Finally, more and more people feel drawn to video games because of the industry’s increasing focus on diversity and inclusion. Today, you’re much more likely to find characters of diverse race, gender, and sexuality represented in big-budget video games, and that wasn’t always the case. The industry as a whole is working to improve diversity behind the scenes, too, with numerous initiatives in place to support the professional development of women and people from diverse backgrounds. While the video game world still has a long way to go, there’s little doubt that significant progress has been made.
