It is fair to say that 2024 has not been the greatest year for the gaming industry. While revenue numbers for 2024 highlight further growth in a market that is captivating more people by the year, that growth has slowed, with substantial numbers of layoffs dominating the headlines in gaming circles. Whether the industry is still recovering from the pandemic or not is slowly becoming more irrelevant, but enough of the doom and gloom talk, let us focus our attention on 2025 and what we can look forward to in the gaming world.
More Esports
The Esports wave is still rising, and it does not look like coming down anytime soon. Since Esports hit the gaming scene, it has transformed into an entertainment phenomenon and events on a worldwide scale are commanding an increasing amount of prize money and more importantly, more fandom and backing from big name sponsors.
The eChampions League competition is an example of a parallel-to-real-life event that is creating a huge buzz. Last year’s tournament was won by Jonny (Jonas Wirth) from Germany, who took home USD$75,000 in prize money after defeating fellow German levyfinn 5-2 in the final. Players from 22 countries were represented at the event in London and this series is only expected to grow to complement regular Esports tournaments featuring games such as Counter-Strike and Call of Duty. With more people streaming and promoting the Esports word, viewership has reached nearly 550 million people worldwide this year. And it might not be long before we see new titles hitting Esports tournaments.
Finally, the time for VR?
While technological advancements have led to profound success for the Esports industry, those in the virtual reality (development) world will be looking across at their adversaries with envy. VR is still touted to be the next big step in gaming tech in some circles, but those circles are getting smaller.
That could all be set to change in 2025 with the release of Batman: Arkham Shadow in October 2024. The game, exclusive to users of the Meta Quest 3 headset, will offer the latest and sharpest VR gaming graphics along with exhilarating VR interaction, whether interacting with other characters or punching the baddies. The gaming industry and much of the VR world will be holding its breath to see if VR gaming finally takes off.
Greater online gambling presence
For gaming fans who are seeking an alternative entertainment avenue in 2025 (if not now), then look no further than the increasingly popular online gambling industry. Classic casino games such as blackjack, roulette, poker, and slots are staple offerings on online casino platforms, while online sports books are benefiting, and profiting, from the sheer number of sports taking place every day. EU casinos in particularly are currently on the rise with many countries in Europe beginning to relax their previous legislations governing online gambling.
The online gambling market is expected to be valued at a staggering USD$266.07 billion by 2030 and with it fitting perfectly into the digital society we currently live in, projections could even increase over the coming years. With more people turning to online casino action, which could be a factor in the slight decline in more traditional gaming, while VR might need to reassess the current costs of headsets to truly thrive. However, for gaming enthusiasts, there is plenty to look forward to in 2025.