Gaming companies are getting smarter, but perhaps they don’t need to be. Around the world, gaming is getting more and more popular, with an estimated 3.09 billion active video game players.
This figure includes everything from console gaming, mobile gaming, esports, iGaming, and even VR gaming – which has recently seen a massive boost due to emerging tech like 5G, and more affordable VR headsets.
In many ways, it feels like gaming companies don’t need to do much to attract players, but then, it’s important to consider the result of this gaming explosion. With a growing number of players – and more diverse player bases – the biggest organizations in the gaming industry have been benefitting, and consequently gaining even more of a foothold.
Whether it’s EA, Activision, Sony, or Microsoft, the biggest names in the industry have been able to leverage their established franchises and massive marketing budgets to dominate. This brings challenges for every other studio. Yes, there are more gamers, but how exactly do you break through the news and attract players to your organization? Well, you get smarter about doing it.
Below, we’re going to talk about the smartest ways gaming companies are attracting players, ensuring the market remains competitive and vibrant, even as the industry grows in size and complexity.
The Power of Promos
As we mentioned before, there are many arms to the gaming industry, so we’ll start by talking about the iGaming sector. Across the board, online gaming platforms have been utilizing a number of techniques to raise their hands and get players to take notice.
These techniques can vary. For instance, while Chumba Casino offers promo codes, including 2 free sweeps coins, Magic Red offers 100 extra spins, and so on and so forth. Whether it’s welcome bonuses, sign-up offers, no-wagering free spins, or loyalty programs, every online platform will offer something unique and attractive to keep driving player acquisition and retention.
The Benefits of Cross-Platform Play
In the traditional gaming world, one of the most effective ways companies have been attracting more players is through making games cross-platform, which means they can play on a variety of different devices – including PC, console, and mobile.
Players in 2024 like convenience, of course. That’s part of the reason why the iGaming scene has taken off so drastically over the last ten years. By being able to play their games in the manner they see fit, the potential for a wider player base is increased dramatically, with games like Rocket League, specifically, experiencing tremendous success by embracing this model.
The Power of Influencers
Many gaming companies have also become experts at utilizing social media and influencers to attract new players. One of the most effective digital marketing avenues is social media marketing, and by partnering with streamers and content creators, organizations are able to reach millions of potential players in an effective but authentic way. Influencers are, after all, trusted by their audience, and this makes them a powerful tool for game marketing, especially with social platforms like Twitch becoming a prime gaming destination in itself.
The Incorporation of Live Events
A lot of the gaming industry is purely digital in 2024, with most people playing their games online. Recognizing this, the gaming industry has recently taken a bold step to integrate live, in-game events as a way to engage players and create more memorable experiences – experiences that go beyond traditional gameplay.
One of the core features of these events is the limited-time nature of the experience, which could include anything from special story chapters, quests, concerts, or even collaborations with other franchises. These events aren’t just static elements, either. They involve interactive components that allow players to actively participate, and make them feel like they are part of something bigger. The idea, here, is to create a sense of exclusivity and community. Players must be playing the game at the same time, during a set window, to experience the event, and if they miss it, then they miss it!
The World of Modding
A big gaming trend that has been growing in recent years is the practice of modding. This is where players create their own content and modifications for games, and while it wasn’t really referenced by gaming companies in the past, that has completely changed over the last few years.
User-generated content is now encouraged, with games like Skyrim having benefited hugely from thriving modding communities that create new worlds, levels, and gameplay features. To keep the appeal of their games going – while also empowering players to take ownership of the content – companies have been providing a range of tools and platforms for players to get creative, working to foster a vibrant modding community that extends game lifetime and keeps things fresh.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the smart ways in which gaming companies attract new players, but as time moves forward – and the landscape gets even more competitive – we’re likely to see even more methods come to light.
Essentially, though, it’s about creating a strong community. While the biggest gaming companies will remain at the top of the ladder, so long as organizations work to foster a strong community and do everything in their power to attract new members, there will always be room for innovation and competition.
