From the rise of หุบเขาลึก, social and casual games to the expansion of eSports into global phenomenon, gaming is on the cusp of significant transformation. These shifts are challenging how games are designed, understood and played and have opened up new opportunities for gamers as well as new challenges to their rights and choices. This article explores the ludic, methodological, theoretical and economic issues that the rapid changes in the gaming landscape raise.

For many years, the main way that game publishers generated revenue was through sales of individual video games. However, this changed in recent times with the advent of digital distribution platforms such as Steam for PC games and Xbox One online store. These platforms offer a vast selection of games and allow customers to purchase them with just a few clicks. The platforms also enable monetization in several ways including in-game purchases, virtual goods and season passes.

The Changing Landscape of Online Gaming Platforms

Additionally, platforms like Twitch and YouTube have enabled video game live streaming. This has created a new player community space and brought in additional sources of revenue. Moreover, it has spawned a new industry of video game celebrities who have a following comparable to traditional sports stars.

With technological innovations, expanded market demographics, and increasing popularity of video game-related merchandise, the gaming industry is exploding with new potential. It is also expanding its scope with the introduction of novel business models such as subscription gaming (GaaS). This model mimics the way that companies provide music and movies via streaming and can be incredibly beneficial to game developers, as it eliminates manufacturing and shipping costs.