- “Divides are causing significant problems in some cases entrenching attitudes and realities that are holding the medium back”
- “The fewer borders we have and the more we instead share knowledge, experience and technology, the more potential there is for innovation”
Over the years, the video games industry has experienced unprecedented growth, becoming immensely popular and profitable. However, with this success, are we witnessing a market that is becoming more fragmented?
The choice of gaming platform already creates a defining fragmentation factor. Additionally, there are further divisions within these platforms, with various stores or launchers competing for users to choose their service over others.
Is this type of fragmentation unavoidable, or is there a way to bridge the gap? In this guest article, Raptor PR’s founder and CEO, Rana Rahman, delves into these questions and explores whether fragmentation impedes the industry’s potential for further expansion.
Does the games industry and medium’s identity revolve more around division than we care to acknowledge?
Most likely, that is the case. While it may not be a popular or comfortable topic to discuss, recognizing games’ significant divisions can help propel the sector forward more effectively.
There are divisions that we can often overlook or downplay.
Throughout the years, those of us fortunate to work in this field have been enthusiastic about promoting the medium’s virtues, uniting in its defense, and highlighting the power of creative and technological collaboration. These are not empty sentiments. The potential of games for various positive impacts is remarkable, and collaboration is consistently at the core of these positive outcomes.
However, there are divisions that we tend to overlook or underestimate. These divisions are causing significant issues by solidifying attitudes and circumstances that hinder the industry’s progress. None of us desire to see this. So, let’s examine what these divisions are and the benefits of acknowledging their existence.
Recognizing Persistent Divisions
One of the most prominent divisions within the gaming industry is platform-based. Interestingly, many of these divisions are currently diminishing as traditional ‘walled garden’ platforms, like major consoles, are increasingly opening up.
Platform exclusivity is gradually becoming outdated, with discussions emerging around digital storefronts such as the Epic Games Store and self-publishing powerhouses like itch.io finding a place on platforms like Xbox. The old model that segmented games based on platforms is seemingly phasing out.
However, the perception of mobile as an outsider platform still persists among many in the industry, often viewed as less creatively credible or authentic for gaming. When such attitudes are seen among players, it can be linked to platform loyalty fueled by years of ‘console war’ marketing tactics. However, it becomes more puzzling when these views originate from within the industry itself.
Even now, 16 years after the debut of the iPhone and the App Store, mobile games primarily receive reviews and attention from specialized publications only.
You won’t have to look far to find industry attitudes asserting that developing mobile games is culturally inferior and inherently cynical.
For instance, in 2024, the BAFTA Games Awards virtually ignored mobile, with Terra Nil being the sole mobile game among numerous nominations. When considering that mobile games account for about 49% of global gaming revenue, the stark division between mobile gaming and other forms is quite striking.
Moreover, web3 games are often marginalized, expected to operate in isolation despite utilizing similar technology, creative processes, and design philosophies as other gaming forms.
Even in an era of user-generated content and community-driven game design through models like early access, an industry fragmented by separating platforms and player bases continues to influence many publications, events, and awards ceremonies.
These inconsistencies seem to contradict the video games industry’s reputation as a forward-thinking, progressive, and innovatively welcoming space keen on embracing a wider range of underrepresented voices to share their stories.
It appears that, as time passes, the once-disruptive force of the gaming industry is gradually succumbing to the practices of an old guard, slipping into the notion that innovation must be moderated by established norms of authenticity and acceptance.
Indicators of Success?
In many ways, these divisions are indicative – or perhaps symptomatic – of progress and expansion. Long ago, the music industry grew so vast and popular that it naturally fragmented. While opera, punk, and techno are all considered ‘music,’ they each have their distinct labels, publications, stores, and venues. Hence, fragmentation – and thereby division – may be an inevitable or potentially necessary byproduct of growth.
At Raptor, we beg to differ. The games industry presently has an opportunity as a collective to defy the notion of following the path taken by numerous other commercialized art forms. This is the time to push back against division.
Gaming has the potential to reshape conventions in other industries.
The fewer barriers present and the more we focus on sharing knowledge, experience, and technology, the greater the potential for innovation, creativity, revenue, and environmental or societal impact. Gaming has the power – and the responsibility – to influence norms in other industries. As a beloved medium, it should continue its trajectory of growth and broaden its scope, captivating a diverse demographic with numerous new forms. The gains from this diversification are immense. Squandering this potential through enforced divisions would be a significant loss.
In the realm of corporate innovation, where major companies grapple with strategies for enhancing efficiency and growth, the concept of ‘stovepiping’ depicts the phenomenon where distinct departments within large organizations exist in isolated vertical hierarchies, with minimal horizontal exchange of knowledge and ideas between these groups.
Stovepiping hampers innovation, revenue generation, impact, and expansion. Regrettably, we are starting to witness a similar form of division that constrains collaboration between creatives and technologists spread across segregated ‘silos’, such as PC, console, mobile, web3, industry, consumers, among others.
Polarized Perspectives
Looking beyond, particularly at the current state of global political dialogues, stark warnings emerge. Presently, polarization in discussions is rampant, with individuals often aligning themselves at extreme ends of the spectrum.
Enthusiastically recognizing this reality should coincide with identifying the growing fragmentation.
The rise of social media, which has significantly impacted games as well, plays a considerable role. Unfortunately, polarization and tribalism do not encourage progress. Rather, entrenched positions lead to further polarization, hindering the pursuit of common goals, opportunities for compromise, and collective advancements. While such polarization may not be prevalent in the gaming industry, the lessons from other sectors are apparent.
Thankfully, the solutions here are not overly complex. It begins with acknowledging this reality. Games represent a fantastic collaborative space centered around play and bringing people together. However, enthusiastic recognition of this fact should coincide with acknowledging the increasing fragmentation within the industry.
Conversations around these issues can spark significant action.
