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Has the Covid-19 pandemic changed the public perception of gaming?

The Covid-19 pandemic, an unparalleled worldwide emergency, has had a lasting impact on societies around the globe, fundamentally changing not just our methods of work, socializing with others, education and much more. But one area that was affected was digital entertainment, as researchers have found that people spent more time in front of screens and used digital leisure more during the pandemic. This was especially true for online gaming and related activities like video game streaming (Claesdotter-Knutsson et al. 2022). People who typically frequent cyber cafes, arcades, or engage in outdoor activities were constrained by the enforced lockdown. Consequently, to combat boredom, individuals turned to digital media, with a significant number of teenagers leaning towards video games. The Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way people view gaming, transforming it into an essential means of connecting with others, finding enjoyment, and relieving stress. People's perspectives on video gaming have been drastically shifted because of the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, which has made gaming a crucial means of connecting with others, finding happiness, and reducing stress.

Despite the strict measures implemented to control the spread of the virus, there was a major shift in the social dynamics of gaming. According to Laato et al. (2020), the ongoing struggle amongst game creators to encourage individuals to remain at home. Several additional creators and publishers of multiplayer and single player games organized exclusive events, rewards, and promotions for players during the pandemic, aiming to encourage them to stay indoors. The online worlds of popular games have evolved beyond basic forms of amusement, serving as vital platforms for sustaining social connections. Because of their potential to bring individuals together in a shared virtual world, they have developed into a valuable tool for communication and collaborative activities. This has resulted in enhanced efficiency and team efficiency, as well as reduced costs and an environmental footprint (Javaid et al., cited in López-Cabarcos et al. 2020). According to King (cited in Claesdotter-Knutsson 2022), Steam, which is the leading digital distribution platform for video games, recorded a record-breaking 20 million active users in 2020. In my own experience, there was a game called “Among us” that emerged during the pandemic, and it was a one hit wonder, players worldwide liked its manipulative game mechanics and appealing social interactions.

Before the pandemic, the changing points of view of gaming during the epidemic also challenged existing biases connected to the gaming community. Previously, gamers were frequently stereotyped as isolated beings, disconnected from reality. However, as gaming gained widespread popularity as a sociable and recreational activity during lockdowns, these views started to dissolve. According to Claesdotter-Knutsson et al. (2022), the World Health Organization (WHO) has supported gaming as a means to encourage social distancing and reduce feelings of loneliness. This support is visible through the gaming industry's media campaign, #PlayApartTogether, which combines COVID-19 prevention guidelines with messages promoting online gaming. With the shifting perception of video games being an isolated activity, they are Streaming platforms, which allow viewers to see video gameplay in real-time, have become important in recent times. The changing idea of video gaming as an isolated activity has been particularly noticeable during the pandemic, especially with the increasing popularity of streaming platforms. These services, which let spectators observe gameplay as it happens, have grown in importance, compromising the traditional idea of gaming as an isolated activity. Therefore, sports companies are attempting to incorporate streaming into their digital marketing strategies to impact consumers' decisions to purchase their products (Pearson, cited in López-Cabarcos et al. 2020).

As people get used to the changing world of video games, a very important question comes up about how these changes will affect people after the pandemic is over? Although the acknowledgment of gaming's social, recreational, and educational aspects has increased significantly, it is unclear whether these changes will continue or if they were only temporary reactions to the unique circumstances of the pandemic. According to López-Cabarcos et al. (2020), The gaming and eSports sector has shown adaptability and continued growth, even within the COVID-19 pandemic. Gaining a thorough understanding of the operation of this sector is essential, as all signs point to significant changes happening soon. Predicting these changes is reasonable, regardless of the development of the pandemic.

In conclusion, the Covid-19 pandemic has unquestionably changed the way the general population views gaming, shifting it from a formerly mocked recreational activity to a fundamental component of everyday lifestyle. According to Niilsson et al. (2022), Gaming and social media consumption are generally popular recreational activities among people of all ages, particularly teens, and there is a significant risk of developing problematic behaviors associated with these activities. Hence, it is advisable to acknowledge the symptoms and carefully monitor individuals in order to support them in identifying and applying adequate coping methods to tackle the challenges coming from the COVID-19 epidemic.

References:

Nilsson, A., Rosendahl, I. and Jayaram-Lindström, N 2022,’Gaming and social media use among adolescents in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic’, Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, vol. 39 no. 4, pp.347-361, viewed 20 December 2023, <https://doi.org/10.1177/14550725221074997>.

López-Cabarcos, M.Á., Ribeiro-Soriano, D. and Piñeiro-Chousa, J 2020, ‘All that glitters is not gold. The rise of gaming in the COVID-19 pandemic’, Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, vol.5 no. 4, pp.289-296, viewed 20 December 2023, <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2020.10.004>.

Laato, S., Laine, T.H. and Islam, A.N 2020, ‘Location-based games and the covid-19 pandemic: An analysis of responses from game developers and players’, Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, vol. 4 no. 2, p.29, viewed 20 December 2023, <https://doi.org/10.3390/mti4020029>.

Claesdotter-Knutsson, E., André, F. and Håkansson, A 2022, ‘Gaming activity and possible changes in gaming behavior among young people during the COVID-19 pandemic: cross-sectional online survey study’, JMIR Serious Games, vol. 10 no. 1, viewed 20 December 2023, <https://doi.org/10.2196/33059>.

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