Gaming in Canada is big business with the industry producing significant revenue for the national economy. At the end of 2019, figures showed that the gaming sector returned $3.6 billion dollars in gross income and those numbers represented a 15% increase from the preceding twelve months.
Gaming is a very resilient business and there’s every reason to expect further rises in 2020 and beyond. It’s grown at a steady pace and, while some still feel that it’s a pastime for the young, there are titles out there that are set up to suit all ages. Here are some more details relating to playing habits and the type of games being enjoyed by players right across Canada.
Growing Community
A report carried out in 2018 showed that 61% of Canadians considered themselves to be a ‘gamer’. Those numbers cover a big age range and naturally, there is a diverse set of tastes within that significant percentage.
The same report indicated that Canadians spoke on Twitter about their gaming habits and that allowed for extensive research into titles that stood out. In fact, Canada ranked as the eighth highest nation in terms of gaming content so what are locals enjoying?
Popular Choices
The ‘Twitterverse’ confirmed that some of the most popular titles stood out with Fortnite right at the top of the tree. Others that may well sound familiar to regular, or even casual gamers include League of Legends, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Those are popular global titles, but those figures might suggest that Canadians prefer a longer-form game that tells a story rather than a quick ‘shoot em up’ battle that contains little narrative. There are many titles that fall into this category so there’s certainly plenty of choice but whatever players’ preference might be, the gaming industry certainly has it covered.
Along with Star Wars, Canadians can play games that are linked to popular TV or movie titles. Sport is a big theme too with football, golf, soccer and tennis among the action and strategy games currently on the shelves.
Play to win
Canadians like to challenge themselves when it comes to games of strategy as we’ve seen. The thrill of competitive gaming and the chance to overcome friends and family is an obvious quest but many others like to aim for rewards that are more tangible.
The online gambling sector in Canada is heavily regulated but it does bring in revenue in excess of $30 billion each year. The figures include casino, sports betting, lottery and bingo so clearly, many Canadians like to include this as part of their overall approach to gaming.
With strict regulations applied by the government, not every global operator is involved in Canada but brands such as casino 888 recognise Canada’s love for online gambling and they have acted accordingly to help meet their customer needs.
Freedom and Flexibility
One of the reasons why gaming has continued its steady rise is the fact that the industry is developing all the time. New technology keeps being introduced to enhance the gameplay experience, so the sector is never complacent.
Handheld consoles were an obvious improvement that came along some years ago while the progression to ‘wands’ that replicate tennis rackets and golf clubs boosted the interest in sports-themed titles. The ability to play ‘on the go’ is a big driver in terms of new players and increased game time. Thanks to that developing technology, it’s never been easier to log in to a mobile phone, tap on an app and take a few plays of your favorite title.
All those introductions have helped to increase gaming revenue in Canada but where does the gaming industry go from here?
What’s Next?
Virtual Reality is often cited as the next ‘big thing’ in video gaming but the technology is already here. VR is being enjoyed by a growing number of gamers, but it hasn’t quite spread to the wider community. Issues with cost and the lack of flexibility that mobile phone gaming offer may be behind that trend, but it’s expected that VR will continue to grow in the years ahead.
Advancements in artificial intelligence could also come into greater effect. This is a factor already seen in the casino industry where suggested titles are offered up to players but it’s another area that’s been slower to take off.
An increase in payment options for in-play purchases could also aid the sector’s growth and those are expected to come in steadily in the next few years.
What is certain is that the gaming industry will continue to innovate, and that creativity is partly behind its success. Gaming brings in multiple billions of dollars to the Canadian economy, but those numbers should continue to rise in the future.
Published By Harry Miller
