Spotlight on Games, Gaming and Gamification

Online gaming represents one of the biggest and fastest growing industries globally with over 900 million gamers. Its growth is not only attributed to the development of online games and communities, but also to the game hosting and adjacent communications platforms that have been specifically designed for gamers and gaming, including Steam, Stadia, Twitch, Discord, and DLive.

Much research has been done to determine the impact of games on those who play them. While games have a positive impact on many lives – not only providing entertainment but also opportunities to connect – there is some evidence to suggest that games can increase social isolation and access to harmful content. Meanwhile, there is also evidence to suggest that games can change how (young) people behave online – both in terms of how they engage and interact with others, and what information or content they find appealing, more likely to be drawn to gamified language, content and experiences.