According to WePC, ‘The video gaming industry is now estimated to be worth $159.3 billion.’ Video game culture is most prevalent in China, with the USA close behind followed by Japan.
Data retrieved from Tech Injury shows that ‘60% of Americans play video games daily.’ In relation to demographics, ‘The average gamer is 34 years old.’ Statistics show that there are more male gamers than female, however, the number of female gamers has gradually increased over the last few years. Tech Injury, 2021.
Why is gaming so popular?
Gaming is popular for so many reasons, with one of the main reasons is that gaming is a fun way to escape reality. Gaming serves as a great distraction from the daily monotonous bores and pressures of the real world. Video games can transport you to exciting and scary places, and there’s something for everyone, from the strategist to the thrill seeker, life stimulation, to action and adventure.
Watching TV is a passive experience, ideal for relaxation, yet the gaming world allows you to actively participate. In the gaming realm, there are no restrictions, you can create new realities, virtually adopt new skills, and become a whole different person.
Covid 19 has affected the popularity of gaming. Statista reported that ‘In spring 2020, gaming quickly emerged as one of the most popular activities during the initial outbreak of the global pandemic as user engagement and spending surged between February and April of that same year.’
Big brands and celebrities have been watching trends, and are seeking to make connections. For companies and famous people, there are a number of beneficial ways to get involved with the gaming world. Let’s explore a few of the ways that brands and celebrities are embracing gaming culture.
1. Brands Are Partnering Up
Many big brands have been partnering up with games-based companies, with lots of exciting results:
Bumble
Back in 2019, dating app Bumble partnered up with Gen.G esports. The partnership set out to create a team made up entirely of women (the first of its kind at Gen.G). The team Fortnite team is called ‘Gen.G Empowered by Bumble’ (sometimes referred to as ‘Team Bumble)’. The team is made up of Kristen Valnicek, Madison Mann, Tina Perez, and Hannah Reyes.
Win2All commented that ‘Even though Fornite is one of the most popular video games in the world, no women competed in the main event Epic James First Cup Finals. Bumble's partnership with Gen.G sought to address the gender gap in the esports world.
Bumbles Chief Marketing Officer, Gina Chung Lee explained that ‘We started this partnership to empower women with the correct tools to compete in esports. We’ve been able to see success all across the board, seeing how the general landscape has changed for women in esports since the partnership launched.’ (Esports Insider, 2021).
Louis Vuitton
The leading fashion brand collaborated with League Of Legends, designing clothing (or skins). Players could then purchase these clothes for their gaming characters. Louis Vuitton didn’t just design clothing for the characters, but matching outfits for the gamers themselves. Of course, the clothing wasn’t strictly for gamers, (just anyone who could afford the price tags!). According to The Drum, ‘the real-world clothing line sold out within an hour of launching.’
Seiko
High-end watch company Seiko collaborated with Pokémon to produce some super unique watches. The initial collection featured Pokémon such as Mewtwo, Eevee and Pikachu. A few months later Seiko released another collection, featuring old-school Pokemon like Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur. Collaborations like this allow both parties to reach new markets and boost their brand power. In the past, video gaming wasn’t seen as a ‘cool hobby’, but over the few years, the world of gaming has been given a fresh new identity.
Gucci
Another luxury collaboration worth mentioning is Gucci. The renowned fashion brand joined forces with an Esports brand called Fnatic, under this partnership Gucci created a new version of their smartphone watch ‘The Dive.' The watch was available for a limited time only; a sleek watch designed to resemble a diving watch, hence its name.
2. Brands are using in-game advertisements
Over the last few years, brands have been experimenting with many different types of digital marketing. By working with the right animation studio many brands have created engaging and entertaining animation content. Content like this works perfectly to capture the attention of new audiences. Other marketing options include working with influencers, or creating podcasts.
Brands can also advertise by using in-game ads, these are a fantastic way to promote a business or product. Companies can use programmatic advertising to target gamers according to their interests. Brands can place advertisements on many game objects, whether it’s the clothing of the players, signs, or billboards. Equally, these ads could be banners or audio advertisements.
How are celebrities connecting to the gaming world?
There are many examples of celebrities connecting to the gaming world. For example, hip-hop legend Travis Scott worked with Fornite to provide an in-game concert for game players. Throughout game-play, users could see the concert advertised on posters. The concert worked by featuring a huge hologram of Travis, within the world of the game.
Recently, Ariana Grande offered users a similar experience. Her amazing show, 'The Rift Tour' was enjoyed by millions of people across the globe. Anyone who missed the show can still check out the highlights of Ariana Grande in Fortnite.
The takeaway
As the world of gaming becomes increasingly popular we can expect many more brand and celebrity collaborations. Technology enables us to achieve so much, and it’s likely that gaming tech will only become more advanced. For big brands, advertising in the world of games is a fantastic way to target the right demographics and engage with new audiences. For ambitious brands, the gaming world holds many opportunities and possibilities.
*Partnered post
