Gaming: the term itself has evolved so much in terms of societal representation over the course of the last 7 years. Where gaming was looked at as the “nerd’s favorite pastime” and led to social ostracization, now, it is a part of our daily lives. 

Gaming has transformed from something niche, to a mainstream commodity. From complex console games like Ghost of Tsushima to simple mobile games like Candy Crush, Fruit Ninja, or even the OG Solitaire, people engage with some form of gaming on a near regular basis- not unlike the use of social media. 

Social media, too, has transformed from a means of communication to an essential bedrock of modern society. These days, social media dictates thought patterns, facilitates business activities, and allows diverse groups of people to come together and form meaningful relationships.

Social media and gaming were two completely different arenas altogether… until they were NOT. Gamers have known this simple truth before any other industry caught on: it’s all about the community. And with the advent of “social gaming”, this fact is being embraced ever tighter.

What Exactly IS Social Gaming?

Social gaming refers to a form of gaming where players communicate with each other while engaging with the game. 

While gaming used to be an isolated event, online multiplayer facilities have changed the way gaming content is consumed. 

Take Battlegrounds Mobile India, for instance. The country’s most popular mobile multiplayer shooting game forced its parent company to re-introduce the previously banned game solely because of its robust and passionate community of players. Gamers in India remember the times they spent strategizing with their friends over the approach to a certain map. They remember those short team meetings in the lobby. They remember the sense of camaraderie formed through that gaming experience. 

This sense of community is being further integrated into the games of the present as well as the future.

Among Us & Fall Guys: Discord’s Greatest Gaming Successes

Two of the biggest online phenomena of the pandemic, Among Us and Fall Guys, first showed us how social media can play a role in furthering the community aspect of gaming. 

When playing Among Us, players had to make Discord chat groups to discuss the game’s trajectory. The same applies to Fall Guys. 

Massive interest from Twitch and YouTube content creators drove up community engagement for each game, to the point where they became a social pastime activity for families and friends. 

This concept of a wider community is now being applied by bigger names in gaming.

The Way Forward for Gaming

In a survey conducted by Xbox, 91% of gamers reported that they will continue talking to their online friends well after the pandemic is over. This makes sense. After all, over the course of a year and a half, they have formed intimate bonds with their fellow community members. 

The future of gaming will see social media components play a major role in the community aspect of the user experience. Epic Games has announced a collaboration with the app Houseparty, to bring the option of video chatting to Fortnite users. This way, they will be able to talk to and SEE their teammates while gaming. 

Sony has announced a collaborative effort with Discord that will see the app integrated into PlayStation consoles, facilitating further connectedness within the respective gaming communities. 

Social media applications themselves are diversifying their services to include games that allow users to further immerse themselves in the application. The Future of Gaming, as is the case with most consumer products in 2021, is decidedly Social.