It’s been an extremely thrilling yr for gaming. Nintendo Change gamers lastly obtained their fingers on the long-awaited follow-up to Breath of the Wild, Bethesda launched their first new mental property in 25 years with Starfield, and Dungeons & Dragons followers set off exploring Baldur’s Gate 3. Plus, there’s nonetheless loads of releases to return earlier than the vacations, too.

We’ve fired up our international Gaming knowledge set – the closest factor you’ll get to real-life cheat codes – on a quest to trace the yr’s largest gaming developments and discover them in additional element. It’s not fairly infinite well being, nevertheless it’s a power-up you don’t wish to be with out.

Earlier than we get began, let’s get a number of smaller developments out of the way in which.

Board video games

Board video games are having a second. They’re immensely fashionable on TikTok, with the class amassing over 134m views on the time of writing, whereas the quantity taken with them grew 13% between This autumn 2022 and Q2 2023. And their on-line counterparts are faring even stronger. Amongst players in 15 markets, the web board recreation style has grown 29% since This autumn 2020.

Native multiplayer

Whereas cut up display or co-op mode is a reasonably uncommon sight immediately, our knowledge suggests players are turning again to the outdated methods. Not solely is the variety of players who play offline with family and friends steadily rising, however our Youngsters knowledge set reveals a 15% improve within the variety of 8-15-year-olds taking part in video video games with mates in individual over the previous 2 years. 

Nostalgia and remasters

Remakes and remasters are nothing new. Amongst shoppers in 12 markets who really feel nostalgic about media, over 1 in 3 stated video video games set off this. It’s not nearly updating video games for a more moderen viewers. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all supply paid-subscription companies for players to entry older titles as they had been. Not solely does it assist hold outdated franchises alive, nevertheless it assessments the waters for what players are searching for in newer titles too.

Now let’s flip our consideration to a few of the greater developments we’re seeing in gaming.

The 5 gaming developments it’s good to know in 2024

1. The console crown
2. UGC and the influence of AI
3. All-you-can-play
4. The tipping level of VR
5. The state of esports

1. The console crown

It’s been three years since Sony and Microsoft kicked off the ninth era with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Collection X/S, respectively. As of Q2 2023, it’s nonetheless too early to name a winner, however the PS5 holds a slim lead with 27% of console players in possession of 1 vs. 22% for the Collection X/S. 

The actual winner, nonetheless, is the Nintendo Change (31%) which isn’t essentially stunning. Being an eighth-generation console, it’s been round longer than the competitors, and was players’ go-to within the pandemic. It was the system so good that some 6 million households purchased it twice.

However what makes the Change so engaging is its lineup of unique franchises like Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon, to call a number of. Sony and Microsoft have their justifiable share of exclusives too however, some might argue, they’re not almost as iconic because the names in Nintendo’s wheelhouse.

Due to that, players prefer to mess around. Simply 13% of world console players stick to at least one model, placing the second console slot up for grabs.

As an alternative of possession outright, our knowledge lets us see which console has essentially the most attain which is sweet to know in case you’re exploring partnerships with particular manufacturers.

Not solely is the Change the most well-liked console, nevertheless it’s the most well-liked second console too, whereas the Collection X/S is the least prone to share house on the leisure unit. The PS5 is fashionable with all audiences, nevertheless it additionally has essentially the most loyal following as players utilizing just one console are considerably extra prone to play a PS5 than some other model.

It’s necessary to recollect how younger these units are, and lots is prone to change down the road. The Change presents manufacturers vital attain, however may very well be nearing the top of its lifespan. Any follow-up console has massive footwear to fill, in addition to competitors from Sony and Microsoft to have in mind. 

2. UGC and the influence of AI

You solely have to take one have a look at the video games youngsters are taking part in to see the recognition of user-generated content material (UGC). It’s a elementary a part of the expertise for video games like Roblox, Fortnite, and Minecraft – all three of which sit comfortably among the many hottest video games for youths aged 8-15.

Loads of video games supply their gamers methods to get inventive, whether or not that’s Halo’s ‘Forge Mode’, the stage builder in Tremendous Smash Bros., or the map editor in Age of Empires. For video games like LittleBigPlanet or Goals, constructing and sharing player-made ranges isn’t simply inspired, however vital for the video games to perform. 

As these instruments turn out to be extra commonplace, anticipate increasingly video games to lean into this – particularly with the progress being made in AI.

Consumer-generated content material and AI are a match made in heaven – to an extent. After all, there are necessary discussions available about how builders and types can use AI ethically with out impacting jobs – to not point out the standard of, and response to, a recreation made solely utilizing AI. Used appropriately, nonetheless, AI might make in-game content material creation (resembling mods) extra accessible for all.

Some keen modders have put it to work already, implementing ChatGPT into the immensely fashionable role-playing recreation (RPG) title, Skyrim. 

As AI instruments enhance, extra would-be creators can dip their toes into content material creation. Eradicating a few of the technical know-how, or extra mundane duties from the method might even encourage youthful audiences to embark on careers in gaming.  

For essentially the most half, this implies extra partnerships for manufacturers. Since content material creators have already got a big following on social media platforms like  TikTok, it’s solely going to get simpler to seek out the precise folks, and assist make extra genuine partnerships, too.

3. All-you-can-play

Subscription fashions in media are seemingly inevitable. It occurred to TV and music, so it’s no shock that gaming is following go well with.

Gaming subscription companies are commonplace immediately. Change gamers use the Nintendo Change On-line service, PlayStation customers have PlayStation Plus (PS+), and Xbox followers get Xbox Reside.

Then there are third-party companies too, just like the Ubisoft Retailer or the Epic Video games Retailer. There’s lots to select from, however all of them successfully permit players to entry on-line multiplayer, obtain video games, or improve their expertise with unique content material for a month-to-month price.

No matter which one players select, that is rapidly turning into the way forward for gaming. The variety of players who use any of the companies we observe has grown 34% since Q2 2021.

On the identical time, extra gaming actions are transferring on-line. Worldwide, players at the moment are extra prone to have bought a online game from an internet retailer than a bodily copy within the final month (10% vs. 8%) whereas console producers look like slowly phasing out the disc drive solely.

The success of 2020’s Fall Guys is a strong reminder of how subscription gaming can profit manufacturers. Free-to-play titles have unimaginable attain which permits them to go viral in a short time, providing manufacturers profitable in-game promoting alternatives in flip.

4. A tipping level for VR

Like an episode of Black Mirror, it’s actually not too laborious to think about a future the place gaming works through a chip within the head. 

However first VR actually must get off the bottom. As of Q2 2023, solely 8% of players in 15 markets use these units to play video games, a determine that’s remained principally unchanged since we started monitoring it in This autumn 2020.

To be clear, the know-how has quite a lot of potential in gaming. A have a look at our Shopper Tech knowledge set reveals that, amongst shoppers who personal a VR system, 60 % say gaming is the primary purpose they use it.

Why 2024 might be a groundbreaking yr for the know-how, then, is due to Apple’s upcoming Imaginative and prescient Professional.

Anticipated to be costlier than any VR system available on the market, the Imaginative and prescient Professional is a high-end system for early adopters to indicate off their standing. Our knowledge backs this up as VR homeowners are sometimes excessive earners and 89% extra doubtless to purchase the premium model of merchandise. 

It’s nonetheless a raffle, however simply because the tech large did with the smartphone, Apple might change how folks understand VR altogether.

5. The state of esports

Esports had a second in 2021 when curiosity and weekly viewership peaked in 15 markets. With out the assistance of lockdowns, nonetheless, it’s since fallen into a gradual decline. 

That shouldn’t overshadow a few of the necessary victories right here although. Almost half of players nonetheless tune into esports each week – greater than the variety of sports activities followers who tune into the Premier League. Briefly, esports have huge attain, and types have an element to play in rising them.

There’s an enormous alternative for manufacturers right here. Whereas esports audiences are comparatively area of interest, they’re an extremely loyal bunch. Esports followers are literally 42% extra doubtless than the common gamer to purchase merchandise to entry the group round them.

For essentially the most half, this implies stepping into sponsorships. It’s one thing viewers are usually onboard with. In truth, 38% even say it’s okay for manufacturers that aren’t associated to esports to get entangled, whereas 45% say sponsorship is integral to esports’ success. Not all conventional sports activities groups essentially have related sponsorships – so esports isn’t any totally different.

Leveling up your marketing campaign

The way forward for gaming leaves lots to be enthusiastic about. AI is catching on, a VR revolution may very well be on the playing cards, and new releases are at all times simply across the nook.
Simply bear in mind, players are an enormous viewers. It’s necessary for manufacturers to acknowledge this, and make use of data-led storytelling and techniques to higher establish and perceive them. If it’s achieved proper, manufacturers can have a greater probability of grabbing maintain of the huge alternatives on this house.