Gaming: How Much Potential is There for Industry Growth in Brevard County and Florida?
By Space Coast Daily // October 28, 2020
Over the last few years, the global gaming industry has reached all-time-high numbers regarding financial worth. As per a report from Reuters, the sector is forecast to record revenues over $159 billion in 2020, which represents a 9.3 percent year-on-year rise.
Concerning the United States market, total sales in the sector achieved record-breaking figures in August 2020 as they peaked at $3.33 billion.
From this data, it’s clear to see that the US retains its status as one of the industry’s leading players from a revenue perspective. However, the same can also be said regarding the country’s role in game development – is the home to world-renowned brands, such as Activision and Rockstar.
Because of this growth, Brevard County and Florida have also become increasingly intertwined in modern-day gaming trends. So, let’s take a look at the region’s inter-state potential.
How Has the State Tackled New Markets?
The past two decades have arguably been the most significant in the history of the gaming industry. An era that began with the Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, and Sony PlayStation 2, has later seen the rise of eSports and mobile gaming, as well as the pending releases of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
On the face of it, Brevard County has been quick to embrace the social and technological changes that have occurred throughout the early 21st century. With competitive gaming, 321Gaming has come to the forefront in seeking to grow the county’s reputation within the eSports industry.
By the organization’s own admission, the objective is to provide SpaceCoast locals and visitors with a forward-thinking resource that connects the gaming community.
However, aside from limiting their offerings to game-related information, 321Gaming has also sought to provide the foundations for local eSports leagues. Although they specifically target residents, the organization is currently focusing its attention on forming competitive Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege leagues, according to GYO Score.
The state generally, meanwhile, has also evolved to meet consumer demands regarding online casinos. This is evident from the digital availability of live casino games at bonus-offering operators like Royal Panda.
Following the sector’s rise to prominence, the convenience of real-time casino titles has caught on, with prospective players now able to conveniently immerse themselves in live variants of traditional games, including baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, as well Crazy Time, Dream Catcher, Mega Ball, and many more. The digital sector continues to expand.
Is There Scope for Development?
Of course, going forward, there is undoubtedly the potential for Brevard County to expand on its existing game-related markets. Given that the foundations are in place for locals to enjoy competitive gaming leagues thanks to 321Gaming, there’s scope for genre and title expansion regarding Florida-based eSports.
While Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Rainbow Six Siege tap into the ever-popular tactical shooter market, embracing the likes of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and Rocket League would help to expand the local audience base.
“Psyonix Announces Rocket League for Xbox” (CC BY 2.0) by BagoGames
Away from gaming participation, another avenue that may see the state broaden its video game involvement revolves around title development. According to a report from VentureBeat in 2017, the US had 2,457 companies that supported its gaming industry.
Although there are no guarantees that moving into this stream would guarantee long-term progression, it’s clear that Brevard County is striving to strengthen local knowledge of game development. In seeking to take advantage of the sector’s multibillion-dollar nature, interested parties can enlist on a developer course that covers interface design, production planning, and much more.
Heading in the Right Direction
In many ways, Brevard County has made significant steps in embracing the latest trends in the video game industry. From forming a local eSports foundation to diversifying into the online casino sector, the Florida-based county’s progressive strides have contributed to the US’ broader gaming growth.
Should this be sustained over the coming years, then there’s scope for Brevard County to establish itself as a pivotal figure in the country’s long-term gaming plans.
