Market (Overall)ยทUpdated Mar 17, 2026 by Newzoo
The gaming industry is transitioning from Games-as-a-Service to Games-as-a-Platform, where virtual worlds function as persistent social hubs for identity, creativity, and commerce.
Consumer demand is high, with 70% of players expecting the metaverse to increase their total playtime and a significant portion of non-gamers expressing interest in participation.
Blockchain technology and NFTs are enabling digital ownership and 'Play-to-Earn' models, allowing players to treat in-game activities as digital jobs while providing developers with secondary market royalties.
Digital assets and virtual real estate are becoming legitimate investments, with some valuations reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Regional development strategies are diverging, with Western markets prioritizing decentralized identity and blockchain, while the Chinese market focuses on mobile-first, omni-channel experiences.
Massive virtual events, such as in-game concerts, have proven capable of attracting tens of millions of unique participants and driving cross-media growth for brands.
Scaling the metaverse requires significant infrastructure investment, specifically in cloud-native development for mass concurrency and the establishment of open standards for interoperability.
The gaming industry is transitioning from Games-as-a-Service to Games-as-a-Platform, where virtual worlds function as persistent social hubs for identity, creativity, and commerce.
Consumer demand is high, with 70% of players expecting the metaverse to increase their total playtime and a significant portion of non-gamers expressing interest in participation.
Blockchain technology and NFTs are enabling digital ownership and 'Play-to-Earn' models, allowing players to treat in-game activities as digital jobs while providing developers with secondary market royalties.
Digital assets and virtual real estate are becoming legitimate investments, with some valuations reaching hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Regional development strategies are diverging, with Western markets prioritizing decentralized identity and blockchain, while the Chinese market focuses on mobile-first, omni-channel experiences.
Massive virtual events, such as in-game concerts, have proven capable of attracting tens of millions of unique participants and driving cross-media growth for brands.
Scaling the metaverse requires significant infrastructure investment, specifically in cloud-native development for mass concurrency and the establishment of open standards for interoperability.