Gaming Spend Reaches $56Bn in the USA | GAM3S Grid Weekly

Futureverse Raises $54M, ESA Reports on USA Gamers, Axie Introduces AXP, Complete New Quests and More!

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GAM3S.GG
July 20, 2023

🔥 Top headlines from this week’s digest:

⚔️ NEW GAM3 Quests

Enjoy playing your favorite web3 browser games right here on our platform with Browser Mania to win one of:

  • Over 450 NFTs in the Mega Mystery Box

Start Quest | Ends Sept 4th

Delve into the labyrinthine Corn Maze, braving traps and adversaries, to gather Crow Feathers to win one of:

  • 400 Feather Hats

Start Quest | Ends Sept 4th

📝 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry: 2023 ESA Report

Dive into the latest ESA report on the U.S. video game industry in 2023, highlighting its impressive growth and positive perceptions as we dissect the stats.

What’s Going On Here? 

The U.S. video game industry is experiencing a period of impressive growth and positive perceptions, according to the "Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry" report by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) for 2023. The report reveals that nearly two-thirds of Americans, or approximately 212.6 million people, engage in video games regularly, defined as at least one hour a week. This indicates a substantial and engaged audience for the industry.

Furthermore, the report highlights the recognized benefits of gaming, with a staggering 96% of Americans viewing games as beneficial. These benefits range from providing joy and mental stimulation to offering stress relief and improving cognitive and problem-solving skills. The gaming community is also diverse and inclusive, transcending age, gender, and racial/ethnic backgrounds, with players from all walks of life engaging with video games.

What Does This Mean?

The findings of the report have significant implications for the future of the video game industry, particularly in the context of web3 gaming. With such a large and engaged audience, web3 gaming has the opportunity to tap into this player base and introduce blockchain technology to enhance gameplay experiences. This could include leveraging the benefits of decentralized chains and networks, enabling ownership of in-game assets, and introducing play-and-earn mechanisms.

The high level of engagement, particularly for puzzle games, could provide a solid foundation for web3 gaming to thrive. By leveraging blockchain's unique features, such as provable scarcity, digital ownership, and interoperability, web3 studios could create more immersive experiences that enrich player experiences and increase user acquisition. The report also highlights the importance of adapting to player preferences, with mobile devices leading as the most used gaming devices. This suggests that building games optimized for mobile platforms is crucial for reaching a wider audience.

Why Should I Care?

The growth and positive perceptions of the U.S. video game industry present significant opportunities for both players and developers. For players, the integration of web3 gaming can enrich their gaming experiences and offer new ways to engage with games. This could include owning in-game assets, participating in decentralized communal economies, and experiencing more unique player-driven interactions.

For developers, the large and diverse player base, along with the high level of engagement, offers opportunities for user acquisition and revenue growth. The report's findings underscore the potential of web3 gaming to transform the gaming industry, making it an exciting time for all involved in the gaming ecosystem. The future of gaming could see a more immersive, player-centric ecosystem that caters to the changing needs and desires of gamers worldwide.

Read the full report breakdown here

✍️ Reviews of the Week

We went through Spark Defense and its unique mix of genres then switched over to try and claim the Best Hunter title in our two featured reviews:

Despite being in early access, Spark Defense offers a wide range of heroes, hinting at its potential replay value. The game successfully combines multiple genres, creating a distinctive and promising cooperative experience.

While Hunters On-Chain becomes quite seamless after a few rounds, one might desire additional mechanics and a more developed narrative to better establish the game's universe. However, given that the game is still in early stages, these issues are relatively minor.

🎮 Fresh Games

From a challenging extraction shooter with a top-down view to a masterful blend of strategy, TCG, and storytelling, check out the latest games added to our platform!

Engines of Fury, a top-down extraction shooter, plunges players into a post-apocalyptic world, offering an exhilarating blend of player versus player (PVP) and player versus environment (PVE) gameplay.

Engage in the hybrid universe of Shardbound, where collecting units, building armies, and strategic gameplay merge in an epic blend of Tactical and Collectible Card Games.

🎙️Conversation of the Week

This week we spoke with Hannah Kang - Global Marketing Manager at MARBLEX to learn more about Netmarble's web3 ecosystem and how it could shape the future of mobile gaming in the East.

Netmarble is a leading South Korean gaming company established in 2000. With a focus on mobile games, it has achieved significant success and global recognition, boasting a wide range of popular titles enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.

What You Need to Know About Gala Games:

  • Acclaimed Game Developer: Netmarble has developed and published numerous successful mobile games, including the highly popular "Marvel Future Fight," which has amassed over 100 million downloads worldwide, offering players an immersive Marvel superhero experience on their mobile devices.

  • Diverse Portfolio: Apart from Marvel-themed games, Netmarble boasts a diverse portfolio of titles across various genres, including role-playing games (RPGs), strategy games, and casual games. Noteworthy examples include "Lineage 2: Revolution," a mobile MMORPG that generated over $1 billion in revenue within a year of its release.

  • MarbleX Innovation: Netmarble introduced MarbleX, a subsidiary focused on developing cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) games. Their expertise in immersive technologies allows Netmarble to deliver innovative and captivating gaming experiences, pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming further.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation recording here

📺 Video of the Week

We enjoyed our time playing Sparkball, with its unique mix of genres and ambitious take on the traditional MOBA formula. We dissect all the good and the bad the game has to offer in our review below. 👇

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Until next time, happy gaming!