Venture capital funding for video games, the lifeblood of many people’s favorite industry, has hit a three-year low. But why exactly is this happening?
In the third quarter of 2023, venture capital groups, the folks who fuel so many gaming dreams, poured in a total of $700.3 million into the gaming sector. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, it is, but here’s the twist—it’s the lowest it has been since the second quarter of 2020. So what’s going on?
The last few years have been quite a whirlwind for gamers around the globe. With the COVID-19 pandemic confining them to their homes, video games gained popularity. However, as they say, all good things must come to an end.
Gaming Industry Slowdown: Cautious Investors, Higher Development Costs, and Rising Competition
In 2022, the gaming industry, which was valued at $183 billion, experienced a decline in revenue of 5.1%. This decline could be due to changing trends or maybe people’s desire to spend time outdoors. It certainly impacted the excitement surrounding the games.
Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting. The gaming industry is facing stiff competition like never before. Gamers, instead of spending all their time indoors, are venturing out, and that means games have to compete for our precious attention. Plus, remember all the buzz around the metaverse and Web3? Well, it’s cooled down a bit, taking some of the wind out of our digital sails.
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But here’s the real game-changer: rising interest rates. Yep, those little numbers on your loans and mortgages can have a big impact on the gaming world. They affect how investors view the industry. Risk, my friends, is not everyone’s cup of tea.
According to Joost van Dreunen, a specialist in this field, “There’s so much content on every platform; it makes marketing very expensive.” In terms of the noise out there, it is challenging to stand out and get noticed. Additionally, prominent game publishers tend to stick with established game franchises that have proven successful. While this may be an approach, it hampers innovation.
Venture capital funding in gaming hit its peak at an astonishing $5.9 billion in the second quarter of 2022. What sparked this frenzy? It was none other than Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, raising $2 billion, valuing the company at roughly $30 billion.
Private equity groups, on the other hand, are taking a step back from gaming. In the third quarter of 2023, they invested a mere $20 million in the sector. Quite a difference from the golden years between 2018 and 2022, when the average quarterly investment was a hefty $852 million.
So what’s the reason behind this change in perspective? According to Eric Bellomo from PitchBook, game development is an endeavor. The real money typically comes from a few standout games. Identifying those potential hits in advance is akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. As investors become more cautious about taking risks, venture capital firms are raising their standards when it comes to supporting games and studios.
The consequences of all this financial drama are hitting hard. Layoffs and studio closures have become the norm in recent weeks. Epic Games had to let go of 830 employees, and Sony’s Naughty Dog and Team17 also had to say goodbye to several team members. Even Embracer Group AB, a Swedish video game holding company, is reevaluating its gaming portfolio.
It is canceling games, cutting jobs, and shutting down studios. In fact, it’s even thinking about selling off Gearbox Entertainment. And remember that $2 billion deal between Embracer and Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund? Well, it fell through back in May.
US government documents trying to prevent Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition revealed some eye-opening facts. Sony’s The Last of Us Part 2 development cost a staggering $220 million, emphasizing the industry’s reliance on blockbuster hits. Astonishingly, a million PlayStation users devoted all their gaming time to Activision’s Call of Duty.
In conclusion, the gaming industry is experiencing a significant slowdown in venture capital funding. It’s a mix of cautious investors and higher development costs.
What are your thoughts on this? Leave a comment and share your opinions!
Source: Bloomberg
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