Gaming chairs represent one niche of the interactive-gaming peripherals and accessories segment that has seen strong interest from the licensing community. Billed as enhancing performance as well as comfort during game play, game chairs were first associated with esports-, gaming-, and gaming influencer-related IP, which still comprise the core of the market. But licensing activity […]
Archive | Interactive gaming
Opening Moves
By Karen Raugust on November 5, 2020 in Design and content themes, Interactive gaming, Licensing, Sports
Interest in chess has been on the rise for the past five years, but it has really been experiencing a pop-culture moment this year, especially since the pandemic began. Some of the indications: Chess as esport. All told, viewers on Twitch, the video game-centric streaming service, have watched more than 43 million hours of chess […]
Sportswear Brands Still Competing in Asian Esports
By Karen Raugust on September 28, 2020 in COVID-19, Interactive gaming, International, Licensing, Sports
COVID-19 has had a big impact on global esports revenues. Newzoo predicted in July 2020 that revenues for the esports industry worldwide would increase by 1.7% this year, compared to growth of 23.3% year-on-year in 2019. Sales of esports merchandise and tickets—Newzoo tracks the two revenue streams as one segment of the total industry—will take […]
Calm in the Storm
Meditation and mindfulness apps saw a spike in usage after the global pandemic hit. In the seven days beginning March 29, two weeks after the start of the lockdown in the U.S., downloads for such apps were up 25% from the weekly average in January and February, reaching 750,000 downloads, according to App Annie figures […]
Esports Properties Score New Partnerships
Esports has gained a higher profile among the general public during the COVID-19 crisis, with viewership and participation both up. Some mainstream sports fans have turned to esports for entertainment or wagering due to the lack of any other sport to watch. Athletes from traditional sports have helped generate awareness during their leagues’ hiatuses by […]
Mobile AR Gaming Levels Up
Niantic’s Pokémon Go, the first hit augmented-reality mobile game, came out in July 2016. More than three years later, the game was still generating $1.4 billion in annual revenue, as of December 2019, according to SuperData. In fact, the title single-handedly drove 81% of the $1.7 billion in total revenues for all AR mobile games […]
Game On
Many retailers, both bricks-and-mortar and online, are looking to solidify their relationship with young adult, teen, and tween consumers, as well as younger future shoppers. Increasingly, they are turning to gaming as a tool in this quest. Value retailer Five Below partnered with Nerd Street Gamers, a developer of e-sports competition and training facilities, to […]
Fun and Games
A wide range of video game properties have found their way into the world of physical board, miniatures, and card games in the past six months. Some examples: Konami Cross Media NY just announced that its recently relaunched Bomberman and Contra titles would be turned into board and card games, respectively. IDW holds the rights […]
Advances in E-Sports Licensing
A number of trends in recent months have been moving the e-sports industry, including the licensing component, forward: Big sports licensees are doing deals. It was not that long ago that the first mainstream sports licensees joined e-sports specialists in doing deals with teams, leagues, and players. Since then, the floodgates seem to be opening. […]
Power Players Enter E-Sports
Licensing tied to e-sports leagues, governing bodies, teams, and athletes has been slowly growing for the past three or so years. Most of the action to date has occurred through specialist licensees and distributors such as We Are Nations, Meta Threads, EsportsOnly.com, Manatee.gg, and Esportsclothing.com. There have also been occasional capsule collections, as well as […]