🎮 How the Pandemic Has Affected Gaming: Trends and Predictions 🦠
As the world was hit with the COVID-19 pandemic, countries everywhere began to enforce lockdowns and social distancing measures. With people staying at home and unable to socialize in person, many have turned to video games as a form of entertainment and socialization. Here are some trends and predictions on how the pandemic has affected gaming.
1. Increased Video Game Sales
With the lockdowns and social distancing mandates, people have been spending more time indoors, which means more time for playing video games. According to the NPD Group, video game spending has experienced a surge of 30% in the US compared to last year, with sales reaching $11.6 billion just in the first quarter of 2020. The sales of gaming accessories and hardware, such as headsets, controllers, and consoles, has also seen an increase of 37% during the same period.
2. Boost in Esports Viewership
Esports have increasingly grown in popularity over the years, but the pandemic has caused a huge boost in viewership. Since people were unable to attend live sports events, they turned to esports events as a way of entertainment. According to Stream Hatchet, a streaming analytics platform that focuses on gaming and esports, the total hours watched in esports increased by 70% from March to April 2020. The viewership is predicted to continue to grow as more people learn about the competitive nature of esports and the live streaming platforms that offer real-time commentary and analysis.
3. More Collaborative Gaming
One of the biggest appeals of video games is the ability to play with others, whether it’s with friends or strangers online. With social distancing measures in place, people have turned to collaborative gaming as a way of socializing and staying connected. This has led to a surge in party games and multiplayer games, like Jackbox and Among Us, which were designed specifically for large groups to play together.
4. New Tech in Gaming
The pandemic has also caused an acceleration in the development and adoption of new technologies in gaming. With the rise of remote work and virtual communication, developers are integrating more VR (virtual reality), AR (augmented reality), and MR (mixed reality) technologies into gaming. The merge of these technologies allows gamers to have more realistic and immersive experiences from the comfort of their own homes.
5. Shift in Gaming Habits
With many people working from home, there has been a shift in gaming habits. Since people now have more flexible schedules, they can play games during the day as a way of taking a break from work. According to a survey by Bunch, a party chat app for mobile games, there has been a significant increase in daytime gaming. In fact, 75% of respondents said that they play games during the day, and 28% of those people said they play during working hours.
📈 Trends and Predictions
The pandemic has had a significant impact on the gaming industry, with many changes expected to continue even after the pandemic ends. The trends show that video game sales will continue to rise, and esports will continue to grow in popularity. Collaborative gaming and new technologies like VR, AR, and MR will continue to evolve and become more integrated into gaming. As for gaming habits, the trend of playing during the day is predicted to continue even after people return to the office.
🦠 Play Safe, Play At Home!
The pandemic has changed many aspects of our lives, but gaming has proven to be a fun and safe way of providing entertainment and socialization during these unprecedented times. Remember: stay home, stay safe, and keep on gaming!
