The video gaming industry is growing faster than ever before, and the market is expected to hit more than $90 billion by the end of 2020, representing an increase of 12 billion dollars since 2017. Additionally, between 2016 and now, more than 2.5 billion individuals have acquired and played video games from in-person purchases and online from websites like TheOldSchoolGameVault.Com.
It is however vital to note that a huge chunk of the revenue (about 80%) collected from this industry comes from software sales. And when we talk about software in gaming, free online slots no download games also fall under software, even though the much-adored online pokies such as the fun-packed Wolf Run slot are in an entirely difficult genre of video gaming – online gambling.
Well, the prosperity of the world of video gaming is hinged on the success of the corporations that sit at the top of the industry. The stiff competition among the top dogs and their level of innovation often determines the direction that the industry will take. Here’s a closer look at the movers and shakers in video gaming, the companies that have been keeping the industry alive and as exciting as it currently is;
Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE)
Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) operates as a branch of Sony Corporation, the well-known Japanese tech giant. SCE was established in Tokyo back in 1993 to oversee Sony’s development of video games for the incredibly flourishing PlayStation (PS) gaming console.
SCE is currently the most financially successful video game company worldwide. In the 2018 financial year, for instance, the Japanese tech giant made $20.8 billion in revenue earnings from SCE, representing the highest revenue ever reported by all the segments of the Sony Corporation.
Activation Blizzard
Activation and Blizzard are a dynamic duo that is known for developing incredibly captivating games that have a large fan base globally. Activision is responsible for high-octane franchises such as the Call of Duty first-person shooter (FPS), whereas Blizzard, on the other hand, is considered the top dog of massively multiplayer video games. Blizzard is the company behind World of Warcraft, one of the most popular MMOGs ever to be created. Activation and Blizzard came together in 2007 and like a two-headed dragon, they conquered the video gaming world by rolling out top-rated games such as Destiny and Overwatch. In 2018, Activation Blizzard generated 7.5 billion dollars in revenue.
Nintendo
Founded back in 1889 to create Hanafuda, Nintendo, as it is, is by far the oldest gaming company. Hanafuda is Japanese playing cards, which have pictures rather than numbers and suits. In the 1960s, so the game studio diverted to other ventures, including creating a taxi company, a rice company, a vacuum cleaner, and toys among other interesting endeavors, but it’s only the toys that didn’t flop, and as such, it settled on being a toy company.
One of the popular toys created by Nintendo was the light gun. And as soon as the first console Magnavox was launched, Nintendo entered the video gaming market by designing a light gun to be used with the home console. Later on, the company started creating games like Donkey Kong, Famicom, Nintendo 64, Gameboy, etc. Nintendo might not be at the top in terms of revenue, but old is always gold. Furthermore, the company still makes a lot of money as 2018 alone saw it make 5.59 billion dollars in revenue.
Electronic Arts (EA)
Electronic Arts, commonly known as EA, is another mover and shaker in the video game business. Initially founded in 1982, EA has made a name for itself by rolling out annual sports games such as FIFA, NBA, and NFL. As we speak, EA is the owner of Swedish games developer DICE and is also the sole supplier of Star Wars. By 2018, the company’s total net worth had hit 22.9 billion dollars, and over the same year, it accrued an estimated $5.1 billion in revenue.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is currently the largest software company worldwide. It’s also known for its gaming subsidiary, Xbox Game Studios, which made an estimated 11 billion dollars in 2019 from console productions. And on top of Xbox, Microsoft also creates computer games on its own or through its other branches such as Mojang, a Swedish-based subsidiary that it acquired for $2.5 billion in 2015.
Many more successful and heavily influential video game companies didn’t make it to the list, such as Ubisoft, Rockstar, Square Enix, Konami, and Warner Bros, and they’ve also created some pretty incredible games. Thanks to these video game companies, we expect more exquisite releases in the coming years as the industry continues with its exponential growth.