The Australian gaming industry continues to evolve, making it one of the most exciting sectors in the country.
Despite having ‘only’ 26 million residents, 17m people in Australia are gamers. As per research conducted by Bond University’s Digital Australia, around 92% of households own a gaming device.
Eager to connect with their children, parents participate heavily in Australian gaming. Around 80% of those surveyed described gaming as ‘good for mental health.’
Younger people in Australia love gaming, with 86% of the population between the ages of 15 and 24 seeing this form of recreation as a perfect pastime or even a possible source of income.
Betting is another popular activity in Australia. Exploring the cultural significance of betting and its interplay with entertainment is crucial to understanding Aussie’s proclivities for games of chance.
The gambling industry’s gross value added amounted to approximately $420 million in 2020, contributing significantly to the economy. On that basis, Australia has established itself as a fertile ground for investments in the gaming sector.
With people migrating from land-based casinos to gamble from the comfort of their homes, the rise of online gaming has become one of the world’s megatrends. Australian operators have grasped the significance of creating a new gaming environment in the post-pandemic world.
The emergence of free betting apps has transformed users’ engagement with wagering, providing convenient and accessible avenues to explore various betting options without requiring an initial financial investment.
Investment-wise, Australia has started financing gaming programs of great magnitude in recent years, while major events such as DreamHack have helped to showcase the genre.
With gaming continuing on a steep upward trajectory, we assess what 2024 has in store for the sector in Australia.
Mobile Gaming
The widespread adoption of smartphones has been instrumental in shaping modern media consumption patterns.
A drastic growth in the gamer audience has been one of its most significant products. With constant technological advancements, consumers now enjoy unfettered access to multiplayer and arcade games spanning diverse genres.
And the best thing is – all that comes at the tap of a finger. The global count of active video game players was estimated at 3.09 billion in 2022, putting the industry among the world’s most rapidly developing sectors.
Mobile gaming seems destined for further expansion in 2023, with 64% of gamers using their mobile device to play video games and an additional 12% solely relying on their phones for gaming experiences.
Popular video games such as Fortnite, Minecraft, PUBG, and Roblox are among the pioneers of the unprecedented rise of mobile gaming.
User-Generated Content
Maintaining player engagement and creating lifelike experiences within games are among the ultimate goals for gaming companies.
In this regard, providers have found a perfect way to entice players through personalization using user-generated content (UGC).
Leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve their targets, gaming companies have proved well-versed in creating custom maps, skins and modules players can gain or buy and share with other users, fostering a sense of community within the industry.
The rising popularity of UGC aligns with AI’s continued progress, creating a synergistic pairing. AI plays a pivotal role in eliminating tactical and laborious aspects of UGC. AI smoothens the process, rendering it user-friendly and accessible for all gamers.
eSports
Professional gaming – more commonly known as eSports – is well on its way to rivaling the popularity of traditional sports among the younger demographic.
This is unlikely to slow down during 2024 off the back of a year that saw numerous exciting new games make their mark with the eSports community.
Last year set the benchmark high with the release of Street Fighter 6, Mortal Kombat 1, and Counter-Strike 2, among others. However, game development persists without pause.
Regardless of your game preference, 2024 will have something to offer to everyone. Tekken 8, Stormgate and Project L are expected to lead the charge.
With millions of dollars up for grabs in competitions in Australia, it is easy to see why eSports is a trend worth following during 2024 and beyond.
