The gaming market in Britain experienced a remarkable 11% growth from 2021 to 2023. A number of important elements are driving this wonderful expansion, which has made gaming a more popular and profitable industry than it has ever been.
Given that the majority of the nation’s video game developers are based in the southeast of England, the expansion of this industry benefits individuals who live near or within London by creating and maintaining jobs. But it’s not all about London – Coventry, for example, is becoming the gaming hub in England (we’ll get back to that later). This expansion has been caused by a number of variables, all of which have contributed to raising demand, spending, and the average lifespan of video games. It’s not only the effect of one of these factors below but all of them together.
The Assistance of Diversification to Appeal to Fresh Audiences
The enormous range of platforms and games obtainable is one of the main factors propelling the gaming industry’s expansion.
The days of gaming being limited to consoles and embraced mostly by young males are long gone. There’s a game for each and every person these days. Particularly, mobile gaming is flourishing, with casual games played on smartphones and tablets drawing enormous audiences from all age groups while also drawing in larger than ever numbers of women and senior players. Furthermore, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are gradually gaining popularity and providing aficionados with immersive and distinctive experiences.
By ensuring that there’s a game to suit practically every player’s interests, this diversification contributes to the growth of the market for gaming-related goods and services.
Esports as a Contributor to Gaming’s Blossoming in the UK
Competitive gaming, or eSports, is another important factor in the expansion of the sector.
Professional gamers compete in tournaments for tantalizing rewards, drawing millions of viewers both in person and online, much like traditional physical sports.
Esports certifications have been developed as a result of this increase, giving ambitious players the opportunity to improve their abilities and maybe opt for a professional career. British players will be able to apply for level 4 and level 5 BTEC eSports credentials starting in September 2024 (we’ll clarify in a jiffy). Rather than emphasizing improving oneself as a player, the qualifications concentrate on the business as a whole.
This isn’t the same as instructional material produced by top online poker rooms like PokerStars, which is meant to assist players in learning and honing their card-playing techniques as they go from novice to expert poker players. This instructional material frequently takes the shape of brief manuals that concentrate on a single subject, such as hand reading, which estimates what cards other players might be holding by using probability and inference.
In addition to drawing in new competitors, eSports cultivates a devoted fan base that supports the sector with in-game purchases and retail sales.
The SaaS Model Prolongs the Life of the Game’s Content
The conventional approach of purchasing a game once and finishing it is practically extinct.
In the game business as well, the software as a service (SaaS) paradigm that has supplanted the majority of our common products, such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office, is becoming more and more popular. Under this model, users buy the original game (or receive it for free) and then have the choice to purchase updates, content packs, and expansions as they become available. Instead of receiving a large upfront payment, this strategy keeps users interested in the game for extended periods of time, generating a consistent flow of income for publishers and developers.
Downloadable content (DLC) is a feature that keeps players returning for more and entices them to invest more in games like League of Legends (LoL) and Fortnite, even months or years after their initial release. Due to their increased spending over an extended period of time, this serves to raise each player’s lifetime value.
Growing Populations Lead to an Increase in Gamers That Are Older
There are numerous generations of gamers now, and new generations are coming up behind them, which is another reason fueling the gaming industry’s growth, especially in the UK.
Video games were primarily intended for younger players several decades ago, even if they were still a fresh notion at the time. Still, these middle-aged gamers still appreciate the medium as much as they did when they were 20 or so.
Young adults of today will follow suit, contributing to the gradual balancing of the gaming population’s demographics despite the previously mentioned diversification initiatives.
September Marks the Start of Internationally Recognized eSports Qualifications
As we previously stated in the post, the inaugural higher-level internationally recognized certifications in the academic field of eSports exist and will start this September.
Beginning in September 2024, Level-4 and Level-5 BTEC certificates will be included in the study of esports, according to a joint announcement from British Esports and Pearson. There will be 30 modules in both the Level 4 Higher National Certificate and the Level 5 Higher National Diploma, covering topics like event production, coaching, and eSports management.
The only university partner of British Esports, the College of Esports in the Velodrome of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Strafford, will provide students the chance to study for the Level-6 qualification. Building on the success of their Level 3 Esports BTEC, Pearson is now offering Levels 4 and 5. This will lead to the industry’s and the digital sector’s continued expansion. This certification is the ideal path to the College of Esports’ top-up degree, which is offered at Levels 6 and eventually 7.
Students will get the chance to participate in and work within eSports events, such as the League of Legends World Finals in November at the O2 Arena in London. Subject to confirmation, the estimated cost of the courses is £6000. Each level will be offered every year between September and May.
It all began with Staffordshire University, which was the first in the UK to offer a degree focused specifically on eSports. The three-year Esports Bachelor of Arts (with Honors) program got underway in 2018.
The BA (Hons) Esports program concentrated on the business side of esports, covering topics such as organizing small- and large-scale competitions for teams of one or more players, developing team development business plans, building online communities, and using digital marketing to advertise events. Students also had the chance to learn about the culture of eSports, its audience, its fan base, and the various game genres that are currently the most well-liked.
Coventry is Growing into a Major Hub for Gaming
Coventry has a long and rich industrial past. It used to be a hub for British manufacturing, but like numerous other UK cities, it has seen a significant economic transition recently as a result of rising globalization, shifting consumer preferences, and advances in technology.
Coventry and the surrounding county of Warwickshire are currently changing as they develop to become one of the UK’s premier gaming hubs. A robust emphasis on gaming education, a burgeoning number of new and existing gaming firms, and a vibrant gaming community are all driving forces behind this shift.
Coventry has been hard at work making a name for itself in the emerging world of competitive video gaming, which is drawing in millions of viewers, ardent players, and bettors on major eSports tournaments, such as League of Legends Worlds, League of Legends MSI, Blast World Final for Counter-Strike, etc. who have been using best international betting sites to try their luck for years. As a result, the city is home to a thriving eSports community, which is supported by programs such as the Coventry University Esports Society, which gives students a platform to compete and bond over their shared passion for gaming.
Because of its diligent efforts to adapt to this new reality, Coventry is home to a thriving esports culture, which is supported by programs such as the Coventry University Esports Society, which provides a platform for students to engage in competition and socialization around their shared passion for gaming. Furthermore, Coventry College is now among the first further education institutions in the UK to provide Level 2 and 3 Diplomas in Esports.
Beyond academic institutions, the city’s esports ecosystem is being elevated by the private sector. Modern eSports venue Belong Coventry offers players a private area furnished with top-tier gaming PCs and consoles so they can improve their abilities, participate in competitions, and network with other fans.
Notable corporations with a significant footprint in Coventry and the surrounding area include Full Fat Games, Codemasters, Ubisoft, Sumo Digital, Sega Hardlight, Playground Games Xbox Studio, and Pixel Toys. These well-known brands, together with a plethora of smaller studios and up-and-coming talent, greatly boost the regional economy by generating highly trained jobs and encouraging innovation in the gaming sector.
For the End
It’s estimated that the video game business will be worth $282.3 billion in 2024 globally, more than twice the combined value of the music and film industries. The eSports sector is expected to be valued at approximately $4 billion in 2024.
The UK hasn’t been left behind in the global phenomenon that’s gaming. As an indicator, the UK mobile gaming market grew by 0.7% in 2023, continuing its rising trend. Even while this may seem like a tiny percentage, it’s crucial to remember that it expands upon a sizable and well-established market. Future growth is expected to continue, cementing mobile gaming’s position as the industry leader, according to experts.
