Horizon Forbidden West

Newzoo Trends to Watch 2022: Games, Esports, Live Streaming, Cloud and the Metaverse

The analysis projects that 2022 will be defined by a cautious expansion of emerging monetisation models and a deepening investment in immersive technologies.

• The global games industry generated $175.9 billion in 2021, with the Asia-Pacific region contributing $88.2 billion and maintaining an 8.7 percent compound annual growth rate.
• Publishers are shifting away from explicit NFT branding due to player backlash and regulatory scrutiny, opting instead to experiment with 'NFT-like' features under alternative labels.
• Legal pressure on Apple and Google is expected to force a relaxation of app-store steering rules, potentially creating new payment pathways that will alter distribution economics.