How marketing led to rise of gaming industry

Rico Džanković
Digital Reflections
5 min readJan 29, 2023

The gaming industry has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade. From console and PC gaming to mobile gaming, the industry continues to evolve and attract a wider audience. A key factor in the rise of the gaming industry has been the use of various types of marketing strategies. In this blog post, we will explore the different types of marketing that have led to the rise of the gaming industry.

  1. Product placement: Product placement is a type of advertising where a product or brand is included in a piece of media, such as a movie or video game. This type of marketing has been used in the gaming industry for many years, with companies such as Coca-Cola and Nike appearing in popular games like FIFA and NBA 2K. Product placement allows companies to reach a large audience and create brand awareness, which can lead to increased sales.
Example of product placement in NBA 2K

2. Influencer marketing:

Influencer marketing is a type of marketing where brands partner with popular individuals or celebrities to promote their products or services. Influencer marketing in the gaming industry has been used to promote new games and gaming hardware. For example, popular streamers and YouTubers are often paid to play and review new games, while attracting a large audience and creating around a new game.

3. Social media marketing:

Social media has become essential for businesses to reach their target audience. Social media has been used to promote new games, updates, and events. For example, game developers often use social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to announce new games and updates, which can create excitement and anticipation among gamers.

4. Online advertising:

Online advertising is a type of marketing where businesses use the internet to reach their target audience. Online advertising has been used to promote new games and gaming hardware. For example, game developers often use online ads to promote new games, which can reach a large audience and increase sales.

5. Event marketing:

Event marketing is a type of marketing where businesses use events to promote their products or services. Event marketing has been used to promote new games and gaming hardware. For example, game developers often host events such as gaming conventions and tournaments to showcase new games and gaming hardware, which can create buzz and excitement among gamers.

Gaming events where gaming equipment is being promoted.

6. Virtual and augmented reality:

Virtual and augmented reality technology is becoming increasingly popular in the gaming industry. These technologies allow players to immerse themselves in a virtual world and interact with the game more realistically. Game developers are using this technology to create more engaging and realistic gaming experiences. In addition, virtual and augmented reality technology can also be used for marketing purposes, such as creating virtual reality demos of new games or augmented reality advertisements.

7. Mobile gaming:

Mobile gaming has seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years. With the rise of smartphones and tablets, mobile gaming has become more accessible to a wider audience. Game developers are using mobile platforms to create games that are easy to play on the go and can be downloaded and played on mobile devices. In addition, mobile gaming has also been used as a marketing tool to promote games and gaming hardware. For example, mobile games can be used to promote new games and gaming hardware by giving players a taste of what to expect before they purchase the full game.

Short exposure to games to motivate consumers to install the game.

8. Gamification:

Gamification is the process of applying game-design elements to non-game contexts, such as marketing campaigns. Gamification is being used to create more engaging and interactive marketing campaigns. For example, a game developer might create a scavenger hunt or a trivia game to promote a new game. Gamification can be used to create a sense of competition, which can motivate players to participate and share the game with their friends and family.

9. Cross-promotion:

Cross-promotion is a marketing strategy that involves promoting one product or service by using another product or service. In the gaming industry, cross-promotion is often used to promote new games or gaming hardware. For example, a game developer might include an advertisement for a new game in an existing game or offer a discount on a new game when purchasing another game. This strategy can be used to create a sense of loyalty among players, and to reach a wider audience.

10. Community building:

Building a community around a game or a brand can be an effective marketing strategy. Game developers are using forums, social media, and other platforms to create a sense of community among players. This can help players to connect and share information about the game. In addition, a strong community can also be used to promote new games or gaming hardware, as well as to gather feedback from players, which can help game developers to improve their games.

Largest gaming communities on Reddit.

In conclusion, the gaming industry has experienced significant growth over the past decade due to various marketing strategies. From product placement, influencer marketing, social media marketing, online advertising, event marketing, virtual and augmented reality, mobile gaming, gamification, cross-promotion, and community building, companies have been able to reach a larger audience, create brand awareness, and drive sales. As technology advances, new marketing strategies will continue to emerge, making the gaming industry always evolving and exciting.

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