Video games have cemented themselves as one of the world’s preeminent personal pastimes, with interest spanning generations. A 2021 report estimated the video game industry value exceeded US$300 billion,[1] and that value has been projected to reach US$435 billion by 2028 (or earlier).[2]
The video game industry is an ever-evolving ecosystem, providing entertainment for more than just the player. Through various platforms, gamers “stream” themselves playing games to a sometimes massive audience for hours each day. Professional video game players can garner millions of viewers, and in some cases their effective compensation (through salaries, endorsements, and ad revenue) is comparable to that of professional athletes. Hence the recent addition of the neologism “e-sports athlete” to our lexicon. Each year, more and more people turn gaming into their full-time job.
As our lives move more online, we are increasingly likely to find ourselves in this thriving ecosystem. For example, popular video games have spawned movies, TV shows, books, toys, clothing, and even food.
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[1] https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/software-platforms/gaming-the-next-super-platform?c=acn_glb_thenewgamingexpbusinesswire_12160747&n=mrl_0421
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2022-02-14/gaming-market-size-worth-usd-435-billion-by-2028-cagr-12-1-zion-market-research
