Why do I have to wait a week to be connected to “The Last of Us”? Why do I have to choose between the series or the video game?

How has the video game market behaved in recent years?

In recent years, the video game market has undergone substantial expansion. According to a report by Newzoo Global Games Market Report 2022 , the market for video games will reach $159.3 billion in 2020, an increase of 9.3 percent over the previous year. It is anticipated that the market would continue to expand, reaching $300 billion by 2023.

The COVID-19 epidemic has undoubtedly contributed greatly to the expansion of the video game industry, as it has led to an increase in gaming time and a desire for other types of entertainment while people remained at home.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous influence on the video game industry, since the requirement for individuals to remain at home has led to an increase in playing time. According to a Newzoo survey, global playtime rose by 20% compared to the same period last year as a result of the epidemic.

In addition, the pandemic has damaged the economy as a whole, and many people's earnings have decreased, which has impacted their ability to buy video games. However, free time has grown, as has the usage of video games as a source of amusement.

What are the challenges facing the video game market?

However, the video game industry has obstacles as well. A growing number of game creators and distributors selling games and services on the market is one of these challenges.

In addition, heightened awareness of mental health and gaming addiction may result in stronger laws and changes to developer practices. Another issue is piracy, which remains a significant concern for the industry. In addition, growing concerns around privacy and personal data may make it more difficult to generate income via the selling of online games and services.

The primary difficulty, however, is to grow the number of consumers who do not already participate in the video game business. That is, the so-called generation X, as there is a double problem at the level of the target audience, as generation Z begins to have less time to play, generation Y is focused on their professional and personal careers and does not have a high purchasing power (economic situation in the last three years), and generation X will have it, and even more purchasing power.

With the same technique, though, the video game business may struggle to attract generation X in the future, since this group grew up with video games and has different expectations and tastes than younger generations.

One of the reasons it may be challenging to attract Gen Xers is that they often want games with a more sophisticated story and deep gaming experience, but the video game business traditionally prioritizes simpler games with a greater emphasis on action.

Additionally, Generation X has less free time and less money to spend on video games, allowing them to be more discriminating in the titles they purchase.

On the other hand, it is also true that the video game industry has produced more complicated games with richer stories, such as RPGs, making it easier to attract an adult audience.

What do I imagine as generation X with a generation Y way of thinking, living with generation Z, and as a Professor of Competitive Strategy?

Why I have to wait a week to continue participating? If I were a video games expert (and/or series), part of Naughty Dog or Sony Pictures Entertainment or PlayStation London Studio or Netflix or Amazon Games or HBO Max or 育碧 I would design a strategy in which each chapter in a series corresponds to a specific game. For instance, each episode of "The Last of Us" will offer new tasks and obstacles to the game. These missions would occur between each chapter and would be charged incrementally more throughout the course of the series. This would allow gamers to feel more connected in the tale and maintain their attention throughout the week between episodes.

In reality, it would enable the game to be played directly from smart TVs, eliminating the need to transfer from the television to the gaming console.

The creation of a strategy in which each chapter of a series is tied to the corresponding game might improve generation X's consumption of video games by providing a more immersive and connected narrative experience. However, it is impossible to anticipate precisely how Gen X's video game consumption might expand as a result of this method. It relies on a variety of elements, including the allure of the series, the connected game, the availability on various platforms, the pricing, the level of competition, and so on.

However, if the strategy is well-designed and well-executed, and the gameplay is of good quality, it is likely to appeal to an adult audience, which might enhance Gen X gaming consumption.

KPI? I would monitor the number of players who finish each task in the connected game, as well as the amount of time they spend playing the game, as my KPIs. In addition, it would monitor the player retention rate and the conversion rate from series watchers to game players. In addition, it would assess player happiness through surveys and social network comments. This would enable me to assess the readiness to pay at various times and in various circumstances.

Also, if I were a video game inventor, I would ensure that the associated game is accessible on both platforms (PlayStation, Xbox), and PC, but mainly on Smart TVs, in order to optimize commercial potential and reach a larger audience. However, the ideal solution is to construct it such that it may be aired on television 10 seconds after the end of each episode (10 sec to start to play).

Therefore, as a generation X, I would not only watch the series of "The Last of Us" or "Assassin's Creed" (2016) or "Uncharted" (2022) and I would go to another movie or series, but I would most likely continue "hooked" consuming a combination series and video game for several months.