Global online gaming is one of most successful markets and has grown continuously. In 2020, revenue was around 2.1 billion U.S. Dollars. This represents a growth of 21.9 percent compared to the previous year.
In comparison to other entertainment sectors, gaming dominated both movies and sports last year. This is easy to understand, given that the global pandemic has caused people to stay at home and seek entertainment online.
It was interesting to see that online multiplayer games were seen as a way for players to meet new friends. In the United Kingdom, a big increase was evident. In June 2020, 26% of players stated that they had played more online since the start of the lockdowns. In certain European countries, nearly half of online multiplayer gamers said that playing online games during the pandemic helped them keep in touch with friends.
It is estimated that by 2025, there will be more than 1.3 billion online gamers worldwide.
Growing Markets
When we look closely at the regions that have the fastest growing online gaming market, we see the Asia Pacific region as the biggest revenue source. Japan, China and South Korea lead the pack in terms of online gaming penetration among their population. The number of players grows along with the population. It is predicted that by 2021 the number of online gamers will reach 250 million due to free-to play options. Esports, which is relatively new in Asia Pacific, has quickly become the most popular game.
Other regions are also contributing significantly to this trend. Forbes considers the Middle East as one of the leaders in this industry, with its gaming revenues expected to reach $6 Billion in 2021. This region is a great place for growth because of its young population, and Arabic is the most widely spoken language in the Middle East. Less than 1% games have been translated into Arabic. This leaves a lot of room for adaptations of existing games and the creation of brand new games aimed at this growing market.
In terms of the games that are most popular in this region, eSports is the trend, just like in Asia Pacific. Parallel to this. Online casinos are gaining popularity around the world, but more so in the Middle East.
Online regional portals, despite gambling restrictions, are devoted to helping players locate the safest options available in their area. Websites like ArabianBetting, for example, dedicate their resources to researching the most suitable venues to play different games. This allows them to provide a wide range of recommendations about. They also provide information about how to ensure the safety of players by selecting the right operator.
The gaming industry in Europe is also flourishing, according to statistics. In 2020, the gaming industry will account for 3% of total revenue. This has increased by 55% over the past six https://8kbet.tube/ years. This region is a great place for gaming because many countries like Italy, UK, Spain and France have realized that gaming has a large potential in their economy and invest in it. Some of the largest names in the gaming industry are based in Europe. Ubisoft is one example. Others include Tencent, Zynga Blizzard and Activision. Some of these countries have also recognized, such as Italy, the potential of legalizing online gambling, which has only increased this revenue.
South America is also a major contributor to growth. South America, where gamers are primarily playing online games is one of the fastest growing gaming markets. North America also has a large increase in online gamers. The number is up by almost 100% halfway through 2020. This region’s main advantage is its rapid technological progress. New technologies like augmented and virtual realities have a positive impact on the gaming industry.
Top games and genres
We’ve already discussed some trends for games in different regions. Let’s now look at the global trends.
Most popular genres:
- Platform Games
- Shooters
- eSports
- MMOS
- MOBA
- Casino Games
Some of the most popular online games include:
- We Are All One People
- PUBG
- LoL
- Dota 2
- Clash of Clans
- Candy Crush Saga
Conclusion
The gaming industry has experienced significant growth due to the growing number of players in many parts of the globe, and the advantages that each region offers. This growth was also influenced by global pandemics and other circumstances. Even Netflix has expanded into games. The streaming service has announced that the first games will be available in 2022. They will also be free for all subscribers.
This decision and the investment made by many countries in the development of games shows that the gaming industry has a large growth potential.