Category
Tech
Delegated Interfaces
Trend cluster
Category
Empowered
Gaming
The gaming industry makes attempts to become more gender inclusive.
3.7
Trend score
Trend
What is the Empowered Gaming trend?
Empowered Gaming: The video game industry has faced a lot of criticism for both its depiction of women, and for its lack of inclusivity for, and at times hostility towards, women and girls. It is slowly making attempts to change these perceptions by bringing women into the fold – most notably by creating female-only spaces in which they can thrive. This shift comes as women and their allies seek out all-encompassing strides towards gender equality.
Trend themes
Themes within the Empowered Gaming trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Inclusion Initiatives
The gaming industry is making attempts to become more gender inclusive by bringing women into the fold and creating female-only spaces.
02
Customization and Creation
Fans are increasingly able to create custom skins in their favorite games, giving rise to a new industry of battle royale skin creators.
03
Inclusive eSports Festivals
Competitive eSports is becoming more inclusive with the creation of women-only esports race competitions and the GIRLGAMER eSports Festival.
Industry implications
What the Empowered Gaming trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Gaming
Gaming companies can take advantage of inclusion initiatives to create female-only spaces and make video games more gender inclusive.
For
Design
The rise of custom skins in video games is creating opportunities for designers to work on popular video game titles and create their own businesses.
For
Sports
The gaming industry can work with the sports industry to increase inclusivity and drive up participation rates among women with the creation of women-only esports race competitions and all-female sports playsets.
Workshop question
How can your brand make moves to become more inclusive in its targeting, marketing, or in the initiatives it supports?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Empowered Gaming
Trend score 3.7 out of 10, from popularity 60%, activity 43%, freshness 8%.
Popularity60%
Activity43%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Empowered Gaming trend
5 featured examples from May 4, 2017 to Jun 12, 2018CategoryTech
Battle Royale Skin Creators
A Fortnite Skin Creator Has Been Developed by Fans for Fans
Game developers may find opportunities to incorporate user-generated content into new releases, and leverage customization and personalization as new revenue streams.
CategoryMarketing
All-Female Sports Playsets
Subbuteo Launched a Special Football Set for the Women’s FA Cup Final
Toy manufacturers can capitalize on the growing demand for diverse and inclusive playsets by creating innovative and unique products that cater to different interests and preferen…
CategoryTech
Women-Only eSports Race Competitions
SimBin Studios Caters to Women with Women and Wheels
Gaming companies have the opportunity to tap into the underrepresented market of female gamers and create more women-friendly gaming experiences.
CategoryTech
Inclusive eSports Festivals
The GIRLGAMER eSports Festival Focuses on Inclusiveness in Gaming
There is an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the esports industry by actively promoting and supporting inclusivity.
CategoryTech
Feminist Gaming Avatars
The Creators of 'Dots' are Releasing a Game with a Female Protagonist
Game developers are tapping into the demand for female-centric and gender-inclusive games, disrupting the male-dominated gaming industry and providing more opportunities for diver…
