Dig into several of the following game industry news stories, hand-picked from across the world of games, from the last week. The closer we go to 2021, the more stories we’re seeing about event plans from event planners in and around games. Case in point: PAX and Fortnite. We also amplify some fresh data how big games have grow over the past year. And of course there’s more to check out — explore the index below for more stories!
Index:
- PAX 2021 Event Dates Unveiled
- Epic Games Maps Out Fortnite 2021 Events Schedule
- Video Games Business Annually Worth Over $50B From California Alone
- BioWare Loses Two Key Studio Leaders
- Forbes: Most Valuable Esports Companies in 2020
- NPD: Games a Growth Industry in 45+ Age Ranges
- Looking Back at Spike TV’s Video Game Awards Show
PAX 2021 Event Dates Unveiled
Source: Polygon
With optimism and safety in mind, we’re announcing our #PAX 2021 Dates. Read the full statement below: pic.twitter.com/dDMhsJwd7t
— PAX (@pax) December 4, 2020
A big name in games conventions has announced their 2021 slate of events, which, as of now, include a few live events, as Polygon reports:
“Organizers for the PAX gaming conventions say they plan to bring the annual events back in 2021, pending positive developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. On Friday, ReedPop and Penny Arcade announced dates for PAX East in Boston, PAX West in Seattle, and PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, but said PAX South will not take place in 2021.”
Epic Games informed its Fortnite-playing community in an official blog post what they have planned for 2021 events, which broadly lays out events the company will be hosting — and just as importantly, what will be missing from the schedule:
“Our intent is to eventually hold global in-person tournaments again, but our priority for any such event is the health and safety of our players and staff. With so much still unknown about what is practical and safe, we do not plan to hold in-person events in 2021, including a Fortnite World Cup. We will continue to provide online competitions throughout 2021 with the hopes that physical events, in some form, can return at some point in the future.”
New data from the Entertainment Software Association shows some key data state-by-state indicators that detail how massive California’s contributions are to the video games industry. But on the whole, the United States benefits from over $90 billion in annual economic impact, which ESA’s press release explains:
“A new study from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) shows the video game industry in California generates $51.8 billion in annual economic output, either through direct industry output ($22.5 billion) or via other participants in the video game ecosystem, such as suppliers and other supported output ($29.3 billion). That ranks the state first nationally—by far—in economic output.
Also, the video game industry accounts for about 218,100 jobs in California, either directly through industry jobs (about 57,400) or through supplier and other supported jobs (about 160,700)—more than any other state.
Overall, the U.S. video game industry’s annual economic output is $90.3 billion and accounts for nearly 429,000 jobs.”
BioWare Loses Two Key Studio Leaders
Source: Ars Technica
Fresh off the announcement of new Mass Effect projects under development, the developer behind those popular sci-fi games and several other franchises are losing key figures. Casey Hudson, BioWare’s General Manager and Mark Darrah, the Executive Producer of the Dragon Age franchise are both departing the company by year’s end. Explore this story (linked above) from Ars Technica to delves into the details.
Forbes: Most Valuable Esports Companies in 2020
Source: Forbes
Without the thousands of fans to cheer them on (relying solely on home audiences) to fuel their growth, how are esports doing in 2020? Who are the biggest winners in esports in this unpredictable year? Those are the questions this Forbes story, which is linked above, aims to answer.
NPD: Games a Growth Industry in 45+ Age Ranges
Source: Gamesindustry.biz
Games, both specific examples and the industry as a whole, have been booming in 2020. We’ve frequently touched on that in the news round-ups, but here’s a new data point from NPD, which recognizes nothing-to-sneeze-at growth in game-playing in audiences that some might not expect: players over the age of 45:
“Gains among demographics were also spready unevenly, with the NPD reporting that adults over 45 showed larger gains in their gaming habits.
People between the ages of 45 and 54 reported spending 59% more time gaming and 76% more money, while those from 55 to 64 spent 48% more time and 73% more money.”
GameIndustry.biz shares a lot more data in the story linked above.
Looking Back at Spike TV’s Video Game Awards Show
Source: CBR.com
“Do you remember watching Spike TV’s Video Game Awards show? CBR.com does. And in this story, they share some of the most memorable moments from that annual pop culture extravaganza from several years ago.
“Spike TV produced Video Game Awards ran from 2003 to 2013 and perfectly encapsulated the disconnect between popular culture and gaming culture from the 2000s. People didn’t always “get” video games and, to the show’s credit, the Spike Video Game Awards tried to bridge that gap. The show frequently featured celebrity hosts, such as Samuel L. Jackson, that served as a way for the show to try and bring pop-culture and gaming together.”
Do you have interesting news to share, or something coming up that would also fit into this regular feature? Let us know!
