Computer games used to be looked upon as unwelcome distractions from worthy pursuits such as studying and sports. In the last few decades, computer games have been blamed for all kinds of maladies from bad eyesight to antisocial behavior and violent tendencies. As gaming becomes more accessible and more mainstream, have we seen it in a new light and accepted it as part of everyday life?
A Social Lifeline
Before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the social life of gamers was largely a myth, only experienced by the dedicated gaming community. Gamers have often been accused by outsiders of being antisocial for prioritizing digital camaraderie over real-life relationships. However, long-time gamers know that strong community connections can exist on digital platforms. Many gamers have built authentic and enduring friendships with people on the other side of their screens, regardless of their physical locations. In the last year, online gaming has allowed us to stay in touch and see (some form of) each other despite pandemic restrictions and lockdowns.
From World of Warcraft clans that meet for raids every weekend to virtual weddings and birthday celebrations on Animal Crossing, digital gaming has provided people with a platform to hang out and battle isolation. For want of something better to do, many people reached for video game controllers during the pandemic, with four out of five consumers in the United States playing video games during that period. In December 2020, gaming sales around the globe amounted to a record total of $12 billion.
This feeling of social cohesion in the gaming space can be seen on Twitch, an Amazon-owned platform where people can watch others play video games in real-time. On Twitch, streamers can chat live with their viewers as they play, raising engagement and interaction to a whole new level. In the second quarter of 2020, the platform clocked a remarkable five billion hours of viewed content, as traditionally marginalized groups such as LGBTQ+ and female gamers of color started to build their unique communities.
Notably, less traditional gaming demographics have shown growth, with adults between 45 and 54 years of age spending 76 more than before on video games and increasing their playing time by 59 percent. The numbers remain impressive with age, with gamers 65 and older spending 45 percent more time playing games than before. While boredom might have been a major factor in this growth, connection with family members might have played a large part as well as families sought online options for group play. Additionally, action-based consoles such as the Nintendo Wii have seen further uptake as people try to stay active at home.
Have Game Will Travel
Now that cafés and restaurants are open and people are interacting physically again, global gaming revenue numbers have declined slightly. That said, the gaming population is still going strong as people turn to playing their games on handheld consoles and smartphones instead of house-bound consoles and desktops. The mobile audience of Candy Crush Saga, Mobile Legends, and Gardenscapes that were captured during the pandemic remain loyal to their games, as faster mobile data connections allow for smoother gaming experiences on the go.
For console gamers who prefer traditional controllers and do not want to play on their mobiles, handheld consoles are filling the gap. Before the Nintendo Switch turned heads with its hybrid abilities, the Nintendo 3DS was the king of 3D handheld gaming. More than 75 million units of the iconic 3DS have been sold since its release, cementing it into the history books of handheld console gaming. One of the best parts of the 3DS is that it can play almost every DS cartridge for up to six different generations, including the über old-school Game Boy! With its affordable price and access to classic games, the 3DS is also a perfect first console for children.
Powered by the popularity of Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Mario Kart 8, the Nintendo Switch console is the new leader of the handheld console world. The Switch family outsold its predecessor, the 3Ds, by the end of 2020 and hit almost 90 million consoles sold by the middle of 2021. Meanwhile, other players have tried to get their slice of the handheld gaming pie with Apple putting out an Arcade product and Chinese company Anbernic coming up with a retro games emulator. Even Valve, the company behind the massive digital video game distribution platform Steam, is planning to release its handheld console in 2022—the Steam Deck.
The general perception of gaming has changed as we used it to alleviate boredom and facilitate our social interactions. Playing video games is no longer a bad and scary habit that is frowned upon, but a recognized way for people to connect and have fun together. As social and gaming trends change, we can look forward to more gaming on the go and more social exchanges in the digital world.