Gaming has evolved from being a mere time-passer for a very small number of individuals to a booming empire that now covers nearly the entire world, permeating society and bringing together people from all walks of life. Gaming has become a key pillar of online culture and looks to only get bigger as we head into the era of Web 3.0.

The past 2 years of lockdown have kept youngsters at home, alienated from the usual company of their friends. So, kids turned to game to get back a piece of their missing social connection, only to stumble upon a digital world that goes beyond mere gaming. Kids are not spending more time than ever on games like Fortnite, Roblox, and other multiplayer-enabled titles, both as a means to stay in touch with friends and for leisure. In a way, most of these community-oriented games feature interconnected digital worlds, much like what the Metaverse aims to pull off, but to a lesser degree. Either way, the various elements present in each title’s ‘dimension’ do offer endless possibilities.

The Twitter Gauntlet

It’s not too far-fetched to think that children would actually be the ones who’ll end up signaling the coming of the Metaverse, especially now with the many evolving cultures and practices. This is where gaming data from Twitter comes in.

Twitter explains:

“2021 was another record year for gaming chatter on Twitter, as Twitter continued to serve as the go-to place for game publishers, gaming media, popular streamers and entertainers, esports leagues, teams, players and commentators. In 2021, there were more than 2.4 BILLION Tweets about gaming, up 14% year over year and a more than 10x increase from 2017. And, Q4 2021 was the biggest quarter for gaming conversation ever on Twitter.”

Versuz NFTs and crypto, gaming is more grounded, providing a more suitable avenue to bring about the next level of digital connection. Looking at the gaming conversation on Twitter, the top games exhibit some of the previously stated open-space environments and, not to mention, a couple of popular titles.

Surprisingly, Roblox didn’t make it to the list of ‘Most Tweeted About’, despite having 43 million daily active users. Minecraft, Fortnite, and Animal Crossing all feature the same kind of ‘social’ worlds, thus better aligning with the Metaverse shift and securing for themselves a nice spot in relevant gaming discussions.

Japanese users were the most active in gaming conversations, followed by the U.S, then South Korea. In fact, the majority of those in the category ‘Countries Tweeting Most About Gaming’ are in Asia, where gaming culture is huge. The exploratory world of Genshin Impact and the unique shooter that’s Apex Legends are really popular. Japan is now Twitter’s second-largest regional user base.

Gaming creators are celebrities in their own right, with top gamers now just as popular as some of the top Hollywood stars. While that might sound like an exaggeration, the fact is that many youngsters now spend more time gaming than anything else, giving the whole gaming community a massive network of supporters and followers.

Twitter also provided statistics about the ‘Top Gaming Creators’, as well as creators who are building a presence within the space.

The Wrap

Contrary to old-school beliefs, again, gaming has become a critical element in broader web culture and trends. Gaming is already big, and, likely, it’ll only get bigger as we look and head towards the next big change. These highly immersive and interactive gaming worlds preview the Metaverse, and, due to evolving behavioral shifts, have become hubs where more than gaming happens – people learn to formulate tactics, build communities, and even do in-game premium trading by ‘playing’ the various games that incorporate these elements.

If you think that there’s no room for games in business, I’m sad to say that you’re wrong, because gaming itself is already a business. I guess fun and games are not always just fun and games, you never know when simply playing your favorite game might end up making you a millionaire.

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Sources

https://bit.ly/3Gm0DNh