Social gaming is sometimes referred to as a social media game. A social video game, or online social game is a type of online game that is played through social networks or social media. They typically feature gamification systems with multiplayer gameplay mechanics. Social network games were originally implemented as browser games. As mobile gaming took off, the games moved to mobile as well. While they share many aspects of traditional video games, social network games often employ additional ones that make them distinct. Traditionally they are oriented to be social games and causal games. The first cross-platform “Facebook-to-mobile” social network game was developed in 2011 by the Finnish company Star Arcade. Social network games are amongst the most popular games played in the world, with several products with tens of millions of players. Green Patch, Happy Farm, and Mob Wars were some of the first successful games of that genre. FarmVille, Mafia Wars, Kantai Collection, and The Sims Social are more recent examples of more recent popular social games. Social gamers are around the 30 to 59 age range, with the average social gamers being 43 years old. There are different features of social gaming such as asynchronous gameplay, which allows rules to be resolved without needing players to play at the same time. Community is one of the most distinct features of social video games in leveraging the player’s social network. A virtual currency that players usually must purchase with real-world money. Social network games are often less challenging than console games and they have relatively shorter gameplay, they use different techniques to stretch gameplay and tools.
A social network video game is a client-server application. The client in the web era was implemented with a mix of web technologies like Flash, HTML5, PHP, and JavaScript. When mobile games moved to mobile, social game front ends were developed using mobile platform technologies like Java, Objective-C, Swift, and C++.
Global Social Gaming Market – Competitive Landscape
On July 17, 2023, True Gamers, plans to invest USD 13.5 million for developing its gaming centers in UAE alone over the next 4-5 months. On April 11, 2023, a leading video-editing SaaS platform, announced its acquisition of Reely.ai, a prominent Esports AI-powered content creation, and social media distribution company. On April 11, 2022, Sony and Lego’s parent company invested USD 2 billion in Epic Games to build the metaverse. On January 27, 2022, Social First Studio secured a USD 2.5 million investment for cross-platform social games.
Some of the Key Players in the Global Social Gaming Market Include –
Global Social Gaming Market – Growth Drivers
The widespread usage of smartphones has expanded the potential user base for social games, making them more accessible. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the smartphone user rate from 2012 increased up to 90%. Social games often integrate with social platforms, allowing players to connect and compete with friends, fostering engagement and viral growth. Many social games follow a free-to-play model, attracting a broader audience that can play for free and choose to purchase in-game items or features. The availability of in-app purchases within social games creates a significant revenue stream for developers, as players spend on virtual goods and currency. Frequent updates, special events, and new content keep players engaged and encourage them to continue playing, contributing to revenue. Collaboration with popular brands, franchises, or celebrities can boost the visibility and popularity of social games. Successful social games build strong communities and engage with their player base through forums, social media, and live events. The rise of competitive gaming and e-sports has created opportunities for social games to become competitive platforms, attracting professional players and viewers.
Global Social Gaming Market – Restraints
Increasing concerns over user data privacy and security can lead to stricter regulations, impacting data collection and personalized gaming experiences. Evolving regulations related to in-game purchases, lot boxes, and age restrictions can pose challenges for developers in complying with different global standards. The global social gaming market is becoming increasingly saturated, making it harder for new entrants to gain a foothold and for existing games to maintain their player base. Aggressive in-app monetization practices can lead to user backlash and negative publicity, affecting the reputation of developers. Ad-blockers can reduce the effectiveness of in-game advertising, affecting a significant revenue source for developers. Evolving user preferences and trends can quickly make social games less appealing, requiring developers to adapt and innovate continuously. Competition from other forms of entertainment, such as streaming services and social media, can divert user’s time and attention away from social gaming. Developing and maintaining cross-platform games with high-quality graphics and performance can be technically challenging and resource-intensive.
Global Social Gaming Market – Opportunities
The integration of augmented reality and virtual reality technologies can provide immersive gaming experiences and open new avenues for innovation. Expansion into an emerging global social market with growing smartphone adoption presents a significant growth opportunity for social gaming companies. The rise of cloud gaming platforms allows developers to reach a broader audience and offer high-quality games on various devices. Further enhancing cross-platform capabilities can help attract more players and build larger gaming communities. The continued growth of e-sports and competitive gaming provides opportunities for social games to become part of this burgeoning industry. Games with eco-friendly and socially responsible themes can tap into the increasing demand for sustainable and socially impactful entertainment.
Global Social Gaming Market – Geographical Insight
The market for global social gaming is segmented into the regions such as in North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & Africa. The largest region for the global social gaming market is North America due to its benefits from a tech-savvy population, high smartphone penetration, and a strong presence of social media platforms that integrate with social games. Additionally, North America is a major contributor to the e-sports and competitive gaming segments, which further drive the social gaming industry. Asia-Pacific region boasts the largest number of mobile gamers in the world. China, in particular, is a significant market due to its sheer population size and growing middle class. The region is also known for its innovation in mobile gaming, and the integration of social elements within games is highly popular. Europe region is another substantial market for social gaming due to robust infrastructure, high-speed internet, and a mature gaming industry.
Global Social Gaming Market – Key Development
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