What began as two white paddles bouncing a pixelated white ball in Pong has grown into a colossal industry worth approximately €177.7 billion as of 2022. Which far exceeds the combined revenues of the music industry (€25.2 billion) and the global box (€25 billion) that same year.
With its exponential growth, gaming has firmly established itself as the third pillar in the entertainment trifecta, or for you Legend of Zelda fans, as one side of the entertainment Triforce.
Apart from their obvious entertainment value, video games have transcended their origins as childish distractions to tools for social interaction, education, and even therapy. This evolution is currently being furthered by the innovative work of game developers and companies across the continent, pushing the envelope for what once was considered a silly and superficial pastime.
Video games as social platforms
Modern video games serve as dynamic social spaces, fostering meaningful connections across geographic boundaries.
A 2022 study from the University of Sharjah on Emirati university students found that 90.7% of participants preferred playing games with friends, demonstrating the role of video games in facilitating social interaction​. However, these social benefits are not universal. The same study noted that 43.59% of respondents felt increased social isolation due to gaming, illustrating the nuanced relationship between video games and human connectivity.
Andrew Fishman, a Clinician at the Response Center for Teens, reinforced this idea, showing how video games act as digital gathering spaces where individuals of all ages can collaborate, communicate, and build meaningful relationships in a safe environment. Additionally, sports-themed video games have been shown to encourage real-life sports participation among youth, with 89% of sports gamers engaging in the actual sports they play virtually.
These games are especially significant for people who may find in-person interactions challenging, such as those with social anxiety or physical limitations​​​.
For individuals with physical disabilities, video games can act as an essential lifeline to social engagement. A study from the Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital of people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) emphasised the importance of virtual gaming environments in overcoming physical and societal barriers to socialisation. Participants noted how gaming allowed them to participate equally with others without the limitations imposed by their disabilities, fostering a sense of inclusion and normalcy​.
Educational potential of games
In education, video games are proving to be highly effective tools. Interactive platforms like Minecraft: Education Edition and Assassin’s Creed Discovery Tour are already used in classrooms to teach complex subjects such as coding, mathematics, and history, making learning an engaging experience.
Video games have also been shown to improve cognitive abilities, including spatial awareness, problem-solving, and strategic thinking​​.
Professor Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist from Western University in Canada found that frequent gamers performed cognitively like individuals approximately 13.7 years younger, suggesting significant benefits to brain health.
The rise of user-generated content (UGC) in games like Roblox has transformed players into creators, offering them a platform to innovate and explore their creativity while honing technical skills like game design and storytelling. This capability turns games into a medium for both education and creative empowerment​​.
Therapeutic applications
The therapeutic potential of video games is gaining attention in healthcare settings as well. Games like Vampire Therapist, which incorporate cognitive behavioural therapy principles, have been developed to help users address mental health issues such as anxiety and depression​.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Animal Crossing: New Horizons emerged as a significant source of escapism and social interaction for many individuals. Released in March 2020, coinciding with global lockdowns, the game provided a virtual sanctuary where players could engage in routine activities and connect with others, mitigating feelings of isolation. Studies highlighted how the game’s immersive environment satisfied basic psychological needs during the pandemic, offering comfort and a sense of normalcy amid unprecedented times.
Additionally, research from Penn State’s Media Effects Research Lab found that players turned to Animal Crossing for socialisation and escapism during the early months of the pandemic. The game’s design, emphasising social interactions and community building, enabled players to fulfill social needs disrupted by quarantine measures.
The National Videogame Museum even went as far as to release the Animal Crossing Diaries, a digital exhibition that documented the impactful and memorable moments experienced by players during the lockdowns.
European startups leading the charge
Across Europe, gaming startups are leveraging the transformative power of video games to address social, educational, and therapeutic needs. Below are a few notable startups that have gone through recent developments and focus on the social, educational, and therapeutical aspects of video games:
Quell (London, England): Founded in 2020, Quell integrates fitness and gaming, offering players a virtual workout through immersive gameplay. With £8 million raised in February 2023, Quell is furthering fitness with its impact hardware designed to engage players physically while keeping them entertained​.
Improbable (London, England): This metaverse pioneer, established in 2012, is creating virtual worlds that facilitate large-scale social interactions. Recently achieving profitability for the first time, Improbable is at the forefront of integrating gaming with immersive online experiences.
PortalOne (Oslo, Norway): Combining gaming and TV, PortalOne’s hybrid games offer a unique interactive entertainment experience. Backed by €53.64 million in Series A funding, the startup is positioning itself as a leader in merging traditional and digital entertainment mediums​.
Mainframe Industries (Helsinki, Finland): A pan-Nordic game developer working on cloud-native titles, Mainframe raised €17.3 million in Series B funding and is preparing for the release of Pax Dei, a sandbox MMO that enables rich, collaborative player experiences​.
RIVRS (Rennes, France): Specialising in UGC games, RIVRS empowers players to create and share gaming content across platforms like Roblox and Minecraft. Its €4 million seed funding in October 2024 highlights the growing importance of UGC in the gaming industry​.
A Future Beyond Entertainment
Video games are clearly no longer confined to the realm of entertainment, surpassing their arcade origins and stepping into territory untouched by the music and film industries.
This is due in large part to their unique interactive nature, offering avenues for socialisation, education, and healing. From enabling individuals with disabilities to engage equally in virtual spaces to transforming classrooms and therapy sessions, the potential of video games is vast and, hopefully, limitless.
Every year, there are new developers and companies that continue to lead the way in harnessing this potential, demonstrating that video games can indeed be more than entertainment—they are tools that can shape a more inclusive, connected, and innovative society.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/12/achievement-unlocked-how-gaming-is-changing-the-world/
