Gaming
FANDOM EXPLORES THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF GAMING & SELF-EXPRESSION IN 2024 INSIDE GAMING REPORT
Study Provides New Insights Into How Brands Can Authentically Engage With Gamers to Help Them Express Their Best Selves Off-Screen.
KEY FINDINGS
Gaming has exploded over the past decade, becoming one of the most dynamic and expansive industries across the globe. Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, dives into the heart of the gaming community to uncover the evolving motivations behind why people game in its 4th annual Inside Gaming report. The 2024 Inside Gaming report – a proprietary study coupled with Fandom’s first-party data from its 350 million monthly unique visitors, 45 million pages of content and 250k fan-powered wikis – captures a notable shift: gaming is increasingly seen as a means for personal expression, exploring one’s identity and providing empowerment and confidence in one’s real life.
Dominant Gaming Motivations
- While stress relief remains the top reason people turn to games, a striking 46% of gamers list creation, imagination, and self-expression as their main motivations for gaming, up 10% from last year.
Influence on Gaming Habits
- People who are gaming for self-expression, creation & imagination are 30% more likely to increase their gaming time, feeling more drawn to the gaming world than ever before.
Games Driving Self-Expression
- 60% of gamers claim that self-expression through gameplay is more important to them than ever before. Titles like Minecraft, Fortnite, and Roblox lead in enabling personal expression through extensive customization options, open-world exploration, and other game updates
Exploring Gamer Identity
- The report also highlights a significant gap between players’ in-game identities versus their real-life personas, with 80% of respondents feeling their gaming identity differs from their real-life identity.
- However, half of respondents claim they’d prefer to be more like their in-game personality IRL and 72% would feel more favorably towards brands that help them achieve this.
- This is especially true of 18-34 year olds, multicultural (specifically African American & Hispanic) audiences as well as women and non-binary audiences.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARKETERS
Emphasize Self-Expression:
- Self-expression is a key driver for gaming engagement. In fact, 32% of gamers want their physical appearance to be more like their in-game appearance.
- Brands that align with this motivation can enhance their connection with gamers. For example, this represents an opportunity for fashion & beauty brands to explore dedicated product extensions for gamers looking to explore this self-expression.
Create Brand Safe Spaces:
- 64% believe that gaming communities are vital safe spaces where they can truly be themselves, presenting opportunities for brands to foster and cater to these communities.
Align with Gamers’ IRL Aspirations
- Many gamers wish to integrate their gaming and real-life personas. Brands that help facilitate this integration can achieve deeper consumer relationships.
- The study found that 48% of gamers want their IRL skills to be as strong as their gaming skills, opening up an opportunity for brands to explore how they can create ways to provide gamers with products that enhance IRL skills and provide a sense of accomplishment & achievement they get while playing.
“From character customization to cosplay and content creation, video games have empowered gamers to explore, express and enhance their identity – nearly two thirds of gamers claim it’s easier to be themselves with a controller in their hands,” said Stephanie Fried, CMO of Fandom. “With the growing significance of gaming as a means for self-expression and personal evolution, it’s crucial for brands to connect to these motivators to help players bring their gaming personas to life in the real world.”
For an interview with a Fandom executive to discuss the study in more detail, please contact Rachelle Savoia at [email protected].
Methodology:
Fandom surveyed 5,000 entertainment and gaming fans globally to understand the ever changing entertainment landscape. The insights from the study were joined with proprietary insights from Fandom’s first-party platform data of over 350MM users, 45MM content pages across 250K wikis.
GGL set to systemize and monetize the world’s largest untapped entertainment audience – the over 3 billion people who play video games worldwide
Las Vegas, NV, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Gaming League (GGL), a global gaming entertainment and media company, announced today the raise of $10 million for its SAFE round led by Solyco Capital. GGL was founded by Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum music producer and entrepreneur Clinton Sparks, in partnership with music icon T-Pain and tech visionary Jeff Hoffman (Priceline, UBid, Booking.com).
The Global Gaming League is a first of its kind multi-title gaming league with celebrity owned teams made up of four players each – high profile influencers, actors, athletes, artists, casual and professional gamers – who compete in live events playing everything from first person shooter, sports titles and fighting games to the latest releases and retro favorites. The GGL is not an esports league – it’s a gaming entertainment league that brings together every style of play and every kind of player. It’s multigenerational, multicultural, and converges gaming, music, sports, fashion, celebrity, competition and culture.
“There are over 3 billion gamers around the world,” said Clinton Sparks, Founder and CEO of GGL. “But there’s still no centralized platform that gives everyday players the spotlight—while authentically connecting brands, celebrities, and competition in a way that’s truly entertaining. That’s where GGL comes in. Imagine the energy of the Super Bowl, the fandom of Comic-Con, and the culture of ComplexCon and Coachella. There is currently no place for investors to have any meaningful return on a gaming investment, brands to consistently get an ROI with gaming, publishers to expand their IP to new audiences, celebrities to have an authentic footprint in gaming and nothing set up for all gamers to build a career as a gamer, and have a chance to be recognized globally as true athletes. Until now.”
The GGL’s matches will take place at their state-of-the-art campus and arena in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world and the home of the Global Gaming League. GGL’s studio facility The Campus powered by Vū, is set to elevate the city’s connection with the video gaming community forever. It is the most technologically advanced studio in the area, boasting the largest wrap-around digital screen in the Western U.S. (second only to Sphere) and 43,000 square feet of space with everything for Hollywood-level film and television production and VIP events of all kinds. GGL delivers unforgettable experiences, high-impact sponsorship moments, and a new entertainment format where the audience is just as important as the action.
“Everybody games,” said T-Pain, GGL Director of Strategy and team owner. “67% of people between the ages of 5 and 90 game in some form—in fact, more people watch video gaming than any sport (short of the NFL). 46% of gamers are female, colleges give scholarships for gaming now. and the average gamer is 36 years old, despite most thinking it’s only for kids. Gaming is a faster, cheaper and safer path to success than traditional sports.”
The Global Gaming League is providing real opportunity for gamers around the world to be drafted and earn a salary as a player on a celebrity owned team through the global nomination submission process where gamers can log on to globalgamingleague.com and sign up. Since announcing this, the league has over a quarter of a million entries to play for one of the celebrity-owned teams.
The first team owners to be revealed include:
- T-Pain – Grammy-winning artist and beloved voice in gaming culture
- Bryce Hall – TikTok star, Bare Knuckle brawler and digital entrepreneur
- Flavor Flav – Hip hop legend, reality show icon, and official host of the Olympics
- Ric Flair – 16-time world champion legendary professional wrestler known for his flamboyant personality and signature catchphrase, “Wooooo!”
GGL will be announcing more team owners in the coming weeks pulling from music, film, sports, fashion, social media and gaming.
Game time is the new prime time.
Gaming is projected to surpass $300 billion by 2026—outpacing TV, film, and music combined. But it’s not just the revenue—it’s the attention. Unlike traditional media, where viewers are distracted, multitasking, or skipping ads, gaming commands full focus. There’s no second screen. No passive scrolling. Just millions of fully immersed fans, locked in and actively engaged.
For brands, this isn’t just a new channel—it’s a new kind of consumer. One who’s not just watching, but participating. One who’s emotionally invested in the moment and wide open to authentic brand experiences that enhance gameplay rather than interrupt it. This is where advertising stops feeling like an ad—and starts becoming part of the story.
“Gaming is a blue ocean opportunity for brands, investors, and new business. Gamers spend 30% more on retail than non-gamers and that number goes up in key categories like automobiles, travel and technology,” said John Garcia, Founder and Managing Partner of Solyco Capital. “Gamers don’t just play—they influence. Today’s gamer spans generations and lifestyles. They watch, buy, and move culture. When I met Clinton Sparks and listened to his vision, I knew this wasn’t just another business idea—it’s a key future in media.”
More Than a League — A Launchpad for Talent, Education, and Opportunity
The launch also includes the GGL Academy—a first-of-its-kind initiative focused on empowering advancement through gaming education, career pathways, and scholarship opportunities. The Academy is built to train, mentor, and connect aspiring gamers, creators, and professionals to real-world roles across the gaming, entertainment, and tech industries.
Strategic partnerships with NYU, UNLV, and Syracuse are already underway, building a direct pipeline from the classroom to the arena. With 74% of Gen Z expressing interest in careers in gaming or digital media, GGL is creating the infrastructure to meet that demand—especially in underserved communities where access to opportunity has been historically limited.
“I came out of retirement for this,” said Jeff Hoffman, GGL Chairman of the Board. “Because this isn’t just about gaming—it’s about access. GGL has the power to connect cultures, build international bridges, uplift underserved communities and close age gaps. And it’s not just meaningful—it’s good business. We’re building a platform that can monetize at scale while making a positive impact. That’s rare, and that’s why I’m all in.”
Sparks adds, “The Global Gaming League is positioned to make gaming a household name in the same manner that the WWE did with wrestling and the UFC did with mixed martial arts, by systemizing and democratizing an industry that already exists with billions of users and hundreds of billions already being generated. Get familiar with the Global Gaming League.”
About Global Gaming League:
GGL is a new kind of league—where gaming, culture, music, sports, fashion, and reality TV collide. With celebrity-led teams, live competitions, global fan engagement, and next-gen media experiences, GGL is building the first entertainment system for the world’s largest and most engaged audience. More info at globalgamingleague.com.
About Solyco Capital:
Solyco Capital is a unique private equity group that delivers capital solutions for late-stage startup and growth companies. Headquartered in Detroit, with offices in Orange County, Dallas, and Miami, Solyco supports high-growth companies with operational guidance through Solyco Advisors. Learn more at solycocapital.com.
Visit: GlobalGamingLeague.com
Press Contact: [email protected]
Business Inquiries: [email protected]
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CONTACT: Press Contact: [email protected] Business Inquiries: [email protected]
FRVR, a global web-based game distribution company providing instant access to thousands of games, has today announced a collaboration with k-ID, a company committed to protecting and empowering kids and teens through age-appropriate online experiences. The partnership will see k-ID’s first-of-its-kind global compliance engine integrated into one of FRVR’s most popular online games, Krunker.
Acquired by FRVR in 2022, Krunker is a free-to-play first person shooter with a large, engaged community of 3 million monthly active players. The integration of k-ID’s safety and privacy compliance technology ensures rigorous online protection for Krunker’s younger players, creating a blueprint for other web-based games and platforms to follow.
k-ID utilizes an age gate as the first line of defense in age verification, providing a simple and intuitive way for users to declare their age. It also offers an optimized, low-friction Verifiable Parental Consent (VPC) flow, which obtains and manages parental consent in a way that meets global regulatory requirements and adapts based on the user’s location. Together, these solutions ensure that every player on Krunker receives an age-appropriate experience while gaming.
Web-based gaming experienced an initial peak in the mid-2000s with games made in Flash. Driven by technological and legislative advances, web games made primarily with HTML5 are projected to become an $8 billion market in 2025. At the same time, laws such as the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act aim to create safer digital spaces for children. With its collaboration with k-ID, FRVR doubles down on its commitment to foster a better environment for kids and teens online — both on their platform and the wider web.
Quentin Staes-Polet, CEO of FRVR, said:
“As the web gaming sector continues to grow, FRVR is dedicated to ensuring young players have secure spaces to have fun and express themselves online. We’re thrilled to collaborate with k-ID, who bring the best in class tools we need to provide a safer and more responsible experience in Krunker.”
Kieran Donovan, Co-founder & CEO of k-ID, said:
“We are thrilled to help empower and protect the large, engaged community in Krunker. At our core, we’re driven by a mission to deliver empowering, safe experiences that resonate deeply with kids, teens, and everyone. What I love most about Krunker is its accessibility—it’s easy to pick up and naturally creates entertainment and connection between players.”
This fresh collaboration follows recent successes for both companies, with FRVR securing $13.2 million towards its AI engine, Upit, and k-ID being named one of the 2025 AI Gamechangers.
The post FRVR Integrates k-ID into Krunker, Setting a New Standard for Child Safety in Web Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
UMX Studios, backed by Jetapult, has officially released DriftX, a mobile car simulation racing game that combines fast-paced competitive action with immersive gameplay. The game has surpassed many global titles, crossing 1.8 million downloads with its beta, and is aiming for 15 million downloads by year’s end. Furthermore, the game hit #1 in the Middle East and smashed through top charts across regions such as the US on both the App Store and Google Play.
The studio’s game title redefines the mobile racing genre by combining competitive modes such as ranked multiplayer and time trials with open-world exploration, a rare feature in drift games. Its physics-driven mechanics strike a perfect balance between arcade accessibility and technical depth, catering to both casual players and racing enthusiasts. The game also offers seamless social integration with features like Voice Chat, Play Together, and Hang Out, making it a dynamic, community-driven experience with an unmatched realistic experience.
UMX Studios recently secured a $4.5 million investment from Jetapult to accelerate its growth. Through its strategic Invest & Operate model, Jetapult provides more than just financial support; it also equips gaming studios with access to top-tier game design expertise, publishing guidance, and cutting-edge AI tools, all aimed at fostering long-term success. UMX Studios worked closely with Jetapult’s experts, including Creative Director Angelo Lobo (renowned for his contributions to CSR2 and Farmville 2) and witnessed a 35%+ increase in user revenue (ARPDAU). The collaboration helped enhance the user’s multiplayer gameplay experience, balancing the game’s economy and social dynamics.
Ali Alharbi, CEO of UMX Studios, commented, “Our collaboration with Jetapult has helped us refine the game and accelerate its growth. The response to DriftX has been amazing and we continue to focus on innovation and community-driven gameplay. We are confident that we will play a key role in redefining the mobile racing genre globally.”
Sharan Tulsiani, CEO & Co-Founder of Jetapult, added, “DriftX’s rapid success is a perfect example of what happens when talented studios like UMX are empowered with the right resources and expertise. It stands out not just for its strong early numbers, but for how thoughtfully it’s been built—from gameplay mechanics to overall design, the team has delivered a racing experience that’s both accessible and deep. We’re proud to support them as they bring this quality of innovation to players across global markets and continue to reshape the mobile racing genre.”
DriftX game is available on iOS and Google Play
The post Jetapult-backed UMX Studios launches DriftX, a mobile car racing game appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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