Cover-Credits:
AFK Gaming
Video games have firmly established themselves as a cultural and economic powerhouse, eclipsing their rivals in other entertainment industries. In 2024, global gaming revenues are projected to grow by 2.1 percent year over year, reaching an estimated $187.7 billion, according to Newzoo. That figure dwarfs the combined earnings of Hollywood’s box office, the global music industry, and sports leagues like the NFL and NBA. Yet, despite its dominance, the gaming industry is beginning to bump up against the limits of how much it can earn from its audience.
For years, gamers have weathered price increases for AAA titles, which are expected to hit $70 for next-generation releases. They’ve also grudgingly embraced the widespread adoption of microtransactions—purchases for everything from character skins to loot boxes—while subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus continue to reshape how players access games. Factor in the rising costs of consoles, peripherals, and maintaining high-performance PCs, and it would seem that the industry has mined every possible revenue stream from its loyal consumer base.
But this is an industry built on innovation, and developers are not content to rest on their laurels. Instead, they are turning to a revenue model long embraced by Hollywood and TV Studios: product placement.
