Last year millions of people around the world took the plunge into entrepreneurship. For some, the COVID-19 pandemic opened up new opportunities – the end of a former job gave them the impetus to strike out on their own. Others saw that new technology gave easy access to work-at-home opportunities that allowed them to get started.
In the United States five-and-a-half million new small-business applications were submitted in 2021 and another five million in 2022, making those two years the most popular years on record for new business launch applications. Of particular note was the uptick in applications by people of color and officials are optimistic that this trend will continue.
In the gaming world, the gaming industry growing at a faster rate than is seen in many other sectors. According to NewZoo, at the end of 2022, there were 3.2 billion gamers worldwide which accounts for a global games market of $196.8 billion, up by +2.1% year on year.
The growth is reflected in all sectors of the gaming industry including online casino gaming, video gaming, playing at land-based casinos, esports competitive gaming and within the gaming influencer market. The trend is being propelled by new tech, the introduction of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality into games and special give-aways like the industry-leading Springbok casino bonus.
Why Now?
The COVID-19 pandemic solidified trends that had been pushing people towards heading out on their own as new business owners. Other factors that have played a part in encouraging the move to open new businesses include expanded access to capital through government and private investment initiatives, more support services for new business owners, new government efforts to encourage businesses to apply for government contracts and a more equitable tax burden that levels the playing field for small businesses.
There are exciting trends within the gaming industry as well that are propelling new gaming businesses to get going. Within the online casino and video gaming sectors new gaming start-ups have new monetization models, metaverse-style environments and better technology on which to base their new ideas.
Some of the more noteworthy new gaming businesses include:
Player X eSports Fantasy Gaming Platform
The PlayerX World Champion Fantasy, the world’s first online fantasy esports platform, is taking fantasy sports a little further afield by allowing users to enjoy a more immersive fantasy experience. The World Champion Fantasy combines esports with the elements of traditional fantasy sports as users assemble their dream teams of esports athletes compete and watch live streams. Avatars and theme music can be customized and there are extensive chat capabilities. All stats and updated information on streamers and athletes are easily available for viewing in one central non-gambling space.
The platform’s innovators believe that their platform will pave the way for other initiatives to expand opportunities for fans and gamers to interact, engage with their favorite professional players, learn, compete in tournaments and with teams and more. There are a number of industry athletes and professionals who serve as advisors on the World Champion Fantasy board.
Comunix
Comunix is a mobile game developer designing games for online gaming events. Comunix specializes in social media games with an emphasis on making the gaming experience interactive and grounded in human connection. Comunix’s most popular game is Pokerface which integrates innovative methods for human communication and social interaction into games of poker.
When playing Pokerface, a Texas Hold ‘Em Poker game, people compete with other players from around the world, both with people that they already know and new acquaintances. The goal of Comunix is to keep all players connected by integrating innovative methods such as a live group video chat that allows all participating players to stay linked throughout the game.
Overwolf
The Overwolf development platform gives creators the tools to build, share and monetize in-game apps. Examples of in-game apps include virtual currency, power-ups, health points, and extra moves. Games that include in-app purchases make consumable currency an integral part of moving forward to the next level.
Overwolf’s tools allow developers to track game events in real-time, bring their apps in-game (with overlays) and monetize their games, many of which are free-to-play games that offer basic play for free. Some of the features included in these apps involve Twitch streaming, game capture, an in-game browser, and TeamSpeak overlay.
Every app published on Overwolf has been tested for quality and performance and screened for malware. All apps are tested to make sure that they comply with the game developer’s terms of use.
Features include game capture, Twitch streaming, TeamSpeak overlay, in-game browser, and others that do not hamper the gameplay but help the gamer. Overwolf technology is supported by Valve, Riot Games and other top game publishers.
StreamElements
StreamElements facilitates streamers’ production, audience engagement, sponsorships, monetization and other influencer marketing tools for videos-on-demand and for live streams. StreamElements is integrates with top streaming platforms. Via StreamElements users have access to overlays, cloud-based brandable items, loyalty, affiliate programs, themes, merchandise storefronts and chat integrations.
The end-to-end platform offers a new standard for stream alerts while working to help prevent users from losing their overlays. The features and widgets available to users keep streams smooth so the creator can focus on the content as opposed to the tech needed to move the streams forward.