The gaming industry benefitted greatly from the pandemic, satisfying our need for virtual entertainment and providing a way to maintain social connections while under lockdown. It’s now a US$150 billion powerhouse\u2014more than the film and music industries, combined<\/i>.<\/p>\n
As we found out on Disruptors<\/i>, the benefits of playing in the gaming space go way beyond entertainment. Gaming is wildly popular with Gen Z, and it’s proving to be useful not just in marketing but in unexpected areas ranging from fundraising to politics. The space presents an opportunity to reach a younger generation who aren’t consuming media in traditional ways, on their own turf. In 2020, even mainstream politicians delved into the unique and interactive experiences gaming brings. The Biden-Harris campaign, for instance, launched a virtual island<\/a> in the game Animal Crossing<\/i> in the final stretch of the U.S. presidential election. Canadian NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh saw an opportunity to connect with young voters by challenging U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to an Among Us<\/i> showdown<\/a>. According to the Washington Post<\/a>, more people watched gaming content in 2020 than ever before, to the tune of about 100 billion hours. Big brands and other organizations are taking notice. <\/p>\n
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