Gaming has become a social phenomenon. Almost every game that gets released today features some kind of multiplayer mode, with the traditional ‘single-player’ mode quickly becoming a thing of the past. Now, it’s all about exploring immersive worlds, interacting with other players, and making new friends, which is something that gamers everywhere have taken to. Make no doubt about it, social gaming is here to stay.
What is Social Gaming?
Social gaming is any time of gaming that requires (or encourages) social interaction between players. On the market right now, you have games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and the all-time classic Minecraft, with each of them falling under the social gaming category. In these games, you can chat with other players, team-up, send friend requests, and a whole lot more, so it’s everything you would want (and expect) from a social gaming experience.
What’s super interesting is that we’re now seeing the demand for social gaming skyrocket, especially amongst younger generations. Some incredible research discovered that 40% of Gen Z and Millenials now socialize more in video games than in real life, with many of them actively seeking out social games to meet new people. This has been an upward trend ever since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021, where millions of people were stuck at home and used video games as a way to communicate with the outside world.
Statista also found some interesting social gaming trends, too, including:
➡️ 80% of gamers say video games help them meet new people
➡️ 77% of gamers say video games provide them with a platform for staying in contact with friends
Ultimately, because more people are playing social games and the industry has become incredibly powerful, it’s estimated that the social gaming market will be worth $50.3 billion by 2032, with most video games by that point expected to feature at least some kind of ‘social’ element.
What’s Driving Social Gaming?
Every year that goes by, social gaming gets more popular. However, this isn’t by pure chance or coincidence. There are a handful of giant factors that are driving the social gaming revolution, some of which you might not be aware of. What are they? Let’s find out!
Gambling Sites
From sportsbooks to online casinos, gambling sites have become hugely popular over recent years. For example, millions of people bet on sports and play fantasy football, with many of them using tools like the parlay calculator from Gamble USA to improve their betting outcomes. At the same time, gambling fans are also playing inside sweepstakes casinos, also known as ‘social casinos’. These are just like your regular online casinos, but they’re much more focused on the social gaming experience, as all of the games are free-to-play and allow players to chat and interact with each other. Collectively, gambling sites have shifted towards providing everyone with social gambling fun opposed to traditional betting, which has given the industry a major boost.
Free-to-Play Social Games
Next, there are free-to-play social games. From console to mobile, a lot of today’s social games, such as Apex Legends, are now completely free, which has caused a huge influx of players. If you’re scratching your head and wondering how these games can actually make money as a result of this, they do it through in-game microtransactions, which are big money-makers and have helped the social gaming industry to thrive throughout the late-2010s and early 2020s.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Finally, countless games have officially introduced cross-platform compatibility. This has allowed people on different gaming platforms, such as PlayStation 5 and PC, to play with each other on the same games, which is something that wasn’t possible a decade ago. This has given social gaming a big push, as gamers are now mixing together more frequently, allowing new connections to be made despite being on different platforms.
The Future: What Will Social Gaming Look Like?
Over the next several years, social gaming will continue to skyrocket. Already, the industry is booming, and it’s only going to get bigger. More people will join social gambling sites, the majority of video games will be free-to-play, and cross-platform compatibility will become an standard. Not to mention, a decrease in real-world socializing will encourage people to use video games as a means for socializing instead, allowing the social gaming industry to reach new heights.
