The game industry has grown much larger than the combined music and film industries, with an estimated two billion fans globally and expected revenues of over $180 billion by 2021.
Infographic: https://www.oberlo.com.ph/statistics/how-many-people-have-smartphones#:~:text=Given%20an%20expected%20global%20population,be%20equipped%20with%20a%20smartphone.
According to a survey, the expected smartphone penetration rate will be around 89% by this year, 2023. Additionally, mobile gaming is driving this growth, with an anticipated $95 billion in revenue by the past year. Meanwhile, console gaming revenues are projected to be $61 billion, while PC gaming revenue is anticipated to be $39 billion.
GIt is anticipated that the gaming industry will continue to develop games that will dominate the gaming world in the next generation's mobile platforms, consoles, and computers.
The Ever-Developing Video Game Industry
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For years, video games have been steadily growing in popularity. What's more, this trend accelerated in 2020 as people searched for new methods to entertain and socialize in the face of the pandemic. In fact, the gaming industry has become larger than film and sports combined, with SuperData reporting that gaming revenue rose by 12% to $139.9 billion in 2020 from $120.1 billion in 2019.
As a result, this success has attracted many companies seeking to capitalize on the growing industry, with analysts predicting the gaming market to reach $260 billion by 2025.
To seize this opportunity, tech giants such as Google, Meta, formerly Facebook, Apple, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and Amazon have all announced their plans to enter the game industry.
As technology continues to advance, so do the capabilities of video games. 3D graphics, Artificial Intelligence, and Virtual Reality are just some of the many ways gamers can experience more lifelike simulations with each passing year.
Additionally, such innovation inspires people to create new and exciting ways to play and connect in more meaningful ways. It is this drive to create captivating experiences that will ultimately shape the future of gaming.
The Biggest Video Game Companies
Infographic: https://www.statista.com/chart/26756/number-of-first-party-studios-owned-by-selected-public-video-game-companies/
The gaming industry is a rapidly expanding and fiercely competitive segment of the global entertainment industry. Speaking of the entertainment industry, Star Wars has always been one of the major influences in this industry and has inspired a lot of video games that have been released.
In recent years, the gaming world has expanded thanks to the growth of digital downloads, mobile gaming, and streaming services. To keep gamers' interest, the top video game companies in the world are constantly innovating and coming up with new strategies.
From Grand Theft Auto, owned by Rockstar Games, to Super Mario Bros., from computer games to mobile games, these companies are in charge of making some of the most recognizable and adored video games ever.
The following companies are some of the biggest video game companies in the world and their contributions to the sector:
1. Microsoft
Microsoft's latest move to purchase Activision Blizzard for almost $70 billion sent shockwaves through the gaming industry on January 18, 2022. This acquisition comes two years after their purchase of the game studio ZeniMax Media. As a result, the company acquired the rights to franchises such as Fallout and the Elder Scrolls.
Adding to their impressive portfolio, Microsoft and Xbox would now have control over the likes of Overwatch and Call of Duty. With this deal, the number of Microsoft-owned game studios will rise to 32, out of which 17 were acquired in the last two years. Some of these studios include Infinity ward, which created the video game Call of Duty.
Activision Blizzard King is the parent company of nine studios, while ZeniMax Media entails eight studios, including Bethesda Game Studios and Id Software. This deal makes it Microsoft's biggest acquisition in the sector, granting them access to titles of popular video games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo.
Investigations into the deal are underway by the European Union and Britain, while Microsoft is already the owner of major games such as Minecraft, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout. With their Game Pass online platform allowing users to play games via the cloud, the American behemoth aims to become the 'Netflix of video games.'
2. Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony was founded in 1946 in Tokyo, Japan. Since then, Sony has sold over 500 million copies of its PlayStation console and holds several subsidiary studios, such as Insomniac and Housemarque, that develop exclusive titles for their machines.
Recently, Sony acquired the game studio Bungie, the makers of "Halo" and "Destiny," for $3.6 billion to further strengthen its game portfolio, although Microsoft still owns the "Halo" franchise. Additionally, Sony has invested in Epic Games, the company behind "Fortnite."
This speaks to the trend in the industry of focusing on live service games, which receive ongoing content updates for years and are monetized through content packs or "seasons," encouraging players to stay with one game rather than seek alternatives.
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan stated that the acquisition of Bungie was to take PlayStation beyond the console and to increase its potential audience. This could also be seen as a sort of revenge for Bungie since Microsoft owned the studio until 2007 when it was the creator of the "Halo" franchise.
3. Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts might not be a direct competitor to giants, but it is a major player in the gaming industry, having purchased 21 game studios since its inception. In 2021, it acquired mobile game developer Glu Mobile for $2.4 billion, demonstrating its intent to compete with the likes of Microsoft, Sony, and Tencent in revenue.
For many years, Electronic Arts (EA) has made a significant contribution to the video game market. Its influential console and PC games from the late 1980s and early 1990s, including series like The Sims, and Command & Conquer, contributed to the development of the gaming industry.
Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes and The Simpsons: Tapped Out were also developed by EA, which made notable contributions to mobile gaming.
4. Tencent
Since Tencent was built, it has acquired 14 game production companies, with a primary focus on online gaming. Examples include Turtle Rock Studios, and even Riot Games, the creator of League of Legends, one of the world's most popular eSports titles, and one of their most successful franchises.
5. Nintendo
Nintendo has achieved success through the creation of beloved franchises from the last decade until these days, such as "Mario," "Zelda," and "Pokemon." They succeeded by creating franchises rather than acquiring other companies, unlike their rival gaming companies.
This strategy became even more successful with the March 2020 release of "Animal Crossing: New Horizons," which quickly became a worldwide phenomenon due to the shift to indoor lifestyles.
Nintendo is unique among its competitors, with only seven direct subsidiaries under its parent company and ten production groups working on games like Mario Kart and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. In addition, the company is also known for its commitment to innovations, as Nintendo switch has introduced a new experience to gaming.
Generally, Nintendo has maintained its spot in the league of the biggest video game companies thanks to their dedication to its innovations.
4 Ways to Make Money Thru Games
1. Professional Gamer
Photo: https://twitter.com/excel/status/1144184653697490946
Being a professional gamer is one of the simplest ways for those who want to make a living in the gaming industry. However, this profession requires courage and of course, a ton of skills to excel. Professional gamers are those who participate in e-sports events for monetary rewards.
Additionally, you must be extremely proficient in the game you are playing and possess a competitive mindset if you want to become a professional gamer. To travel to tournaments, you'll also need to be a member of an e-sports team or have sponsors.
2. Video Game Blogger
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Being a video game blogger is another way for writers to make a living in the gaming industry. In fact, recent video game releases, trends, and news are covered in articles and reviews by video game bloggers.
Therefore, you must love playing and writing video games, be knowledgeable about the gaming industry. Also, you must be motivated to keep up with the latest trends to become a successful video game blogger.
3. Game Developer
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A career as a video game developer might be something you should consider if you possess both a creative mindset and technical proficiency. The games that people play are produced by video game developers. Therefore, you'll need a solid grasp of computer programming and game design to succeed in game development.
4. Twitch Streamer
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You might want to become a Twitch streamer if you like interacting with people. Most Twitch streamers are gamers who broadcast their gameplay for viewers to see. Therefore, it would be best if you are entertaining, have strong gaming skills, and can interact with your viewers to succeed as a Twitch streamer. Additionally, you'll need technical know-how to configure your streaming apparatus.
Best Gaming Rigs to Choose From this 2023
1. Alienware Aurora R13
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The Alienware Aurora R13 is the most recent in the company's long line of Intel-powered devices. It's also one of the best gaming PCs you can buy this year. Additionally, with the newest Intel Core 12th gen Alder Lake processors, PCIe 5.0, and DDR5 support inside, this system is prepared for the next generation of gaming.
However, the Alienware Aurora R13 is not a budget gaming computer. You're paying a hefty premium for all that power with a $3,500 MSRP. Generally, the performance of the Aurora R13 speaks for itself, and for those seeking a smooth ray-traced 4K experience this year with few noticeable compromises, there’s no better option.
Pros
- Redesigned chassis with side window
- Excellent 4K performance
- Support for DDR5 / PCIe 5.0
- Blazing-fast CPU performance thanks to the new 12th Gen Core i9 "Alder Lake" chip
Cons
- Pricey as configured
- Love it or hate it, design
- Loud fans underload
- It gets loud and hot quite quickly
2. HP Omen 30L
Photo: https://twitter.com/Daniel_Rubino/status/1340401411616632832/photo/2
HP's Omen 30L range is the go-to gaming PC for those who don't want to build their set-up. It offers ease of use with high-end components, customizable RGB lighting, an unlocked Intel Core i9-10900K CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU, and more.
Pros
- Classy exterior chassis design with customizable RGB lighting
- Accessible internals
- Built-in overclocking with Intel K-series CPU
- Integrated Wi-Fi 6, with no external antenna
Cons
- It can get very loud with CPU-intensive tasks
- Needless software and accessories
- Side-panel window exposes the messy interior
3. Acer Predator Orion 7000
Photo: https://twitter.com/TheGalox_/status/1452447165104721926/photo/1
Acer Predator Orion 7000 is, without a doubt, one of the best gaming PCs on the market right now. It is visible in every aspect, including the internal components (especially with the transition to DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support) and the ease of upgrading.
Acer Predator Orion 7000 is a high-performance gaming desktop designed for gamers who demand the best performance and design. It features an Intel Core i7-9700K processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti graphics card, and up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. Also, it offers up to 8TB of storage and up to 4TB of SSD storage.
Pros
- Incredible high-end gaming performance
- plenty of memory for multitasking
- Customizable RGB lighting allows for personalized gaming aesthetics
- Easy to upgrade
Cons
- The expensive price tag makes it out of reach for most gamers
- Limited overclocking capabilities
- High power consumption can drive up electricity bills
Other Gaming Accessories Recommendation
Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset will forever change how you hear your games. Regarding audio quality, the Nova Pro Acoustic System has raised the bar, creating an immersive gaming experience. All professional sound engineers created this headset with Premium High Fidelity Drivers to provide crystal-clear sounds.
It all feels real, from faint footfalls to intense explosions. Because of its wireless capabilities, you can play games while walking freely. Experience a new level of gaming excellence with the wireless Arctis Nova Pro.
PROS
- Excellent Sound Quality
- Long Battery Life
- Comfortable Design
CONS
- Limited Color Options
- Pricey
- Non-Replaceable Battery
MX Master 2S WL Mouse
The MX Master 2S WL Mouse is here, and it will change how you interact with your computer forever. Logitech Flow allows you to seamlessly switch between up to three PCs, making copying and pasting documents, photos, and more easy. With the bundled Unifying receiver or Bluetooth Smart wireless technology, you can connect to three different Windows or Mac computers simultaneously.
Thanks to its cutting-edge ergonomic design, your hand and wrist will rest in a relaxed, natural position. The speed-adaptive scroll wheel smoothly transitions between click-by-click and blazing-fast scrolling, bringing you the ease of auto-shift scrolling. You can get up to 70 days of use from a single charge of a rechargeable battery. The MX Master 2S WL Mouse is an instant productivity booster.
PROS
- Cross-Computer Control
- Dual Connectivity
- Auto-Shift Scrolling
CONS
- Costly
- Gesture Button Limitations
- Software Dependency
Logitech G915 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
The Logitech G915 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is the latest innovation in gaming keyboards. In addition to three distinct low-profile GL switch configurations and professional-grade 1ms LIGHTSPEED Wireless technology, this keyboard ushers in a new era of wireless mechanical gaming. When fully charged, it can keep you entertained for 30 hours straight.
The G915's per-key LIGHTSYNC RGB technology responds to game-playing events, audio, and screen color to create a dynamic visual experience. Its sturdiness and incredibly slim profile make for an exceptional gaming experience. The media buttons and volume wheel make managing your files and services easy. The customizable G-keys allow you to perform complex tasks with ease and intuition.
PROS
- Sleek and Durable Design
- Programmable G-Keys
- Customizable RGB Lighting
CONS
- Limited Switch Options
- Battery Life
- Lack of Dedicated Media Controls
The Expansion of Online Games
The growth of online gaming has been great for the gaming industry, which has seen an exponential increase in the number of biggest video game companies worldwide. As a result, more games are now available to players, allowing publishers and developers to cater to a wider market.
Thanks to the development of cloud gaming and streaming services, gamers can now access and play the newest games on any device, no matter where they are.
This has enabled gaming businesses to penetrate new markets and increase their clientele. As the popularity of online gaming rises, more gaming businesses will emerge globally, offering players a wide range of distinctive gaming experiences.
To keep up with the evolution of the gaming industry, you’d need a gaming rig that would be on par with futuristic games. The Alienware Aurora R13, HP Omen 30L, and Acer Predator Orion 7000 will yield incredible performance for your lightweight and heavy tasks!
Be sure to check each product on Amazon, or you can also check our selections on our Dynamic Setups. Also, what do you think about today’s gaming industry giants? Do you fancy one of the companies? Let us know down in the comments, and we’ll talk about it!
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