Pop Culture
With the rise of YouTube, came gaming YouTubers. These people were able to record themselves playing a game and upload it into the website. Depending on the length it could be a one-time video but if it was a longer game, they could turn it into a series. This made it possible for the games they played to gain traction and grow their fanbases. In the eyes of developers, many saw it as free promotion and at some point, YouTubers started being paid by both YouTube and game devs for playing games. This created a community of people interested in games that didn’t necessarily play them. To this day, these communities continue to grow with the additions of platforms like Twitch.
This ties into consumerism and entertainment!
Consumerism:
Video game sections can be found in many stores, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc. However, these sections have expanded beyond consoles and games. Game-related items can now be found in home decor, clothing, and toys. These marketing strategists pay attention to the demographics in each of these sections in order to make sales. The games featured in the toys aisle are probably not the same ones in the home decor aisle. All this to say that games are getting about the same treatment as popular TV shows or online series, something that would’ve stood out a couple of decades ago.
Entertainment:
Movies, shows, and music and a big part of our society. People use these topics as a way to break the ice or define who they are and where their interests lie. Plenty of movies based on video games have come out in recent years, giving many that feeling of nostalgia that they crave. Music is an important component of what makes up a video game. Soundtracks for them have even gained a fandom of their own. Lastly, TV shows have tried to uncover some of the lore these games feature. Most of them are online series but there are always exceptions. The Last of Us comes to mind.