Unless you are a triple-A development studio, marketing your games is incredibly difficult. Many indie companies that pour their heart and soul into the games they make simply stay under the radar. The same is true in the casino gaming industry. Game libraries are filled with slots, and many of them never get the attention they deserve. This is why following trends is important, as it gives you a better chance of becoming visible to the target audience. One of the big trends in the iGaming industry is slots themed after video games. Here we will go over the reason why gamblers find them appealing.
Why Are Video Game Themed Slots Becoming More Popular
Anyone who browses sites that feature ads and banners has likely come across promotions for online casinos. The industry has expanded significantly over the past years, and the market is becoming increasingly competitive. As a result, online gambling has become more accessible and even cheaper. You can find many sites reviewed by the Wageringadvisors.ca where you can gamble and qualify for bonuses with just a $1 deposit. Given the access to these promos and trustworthy sites, many new players were tempted to give online casinos a try.
The aggressive growth of the online gambling businesses has led to the creation of dozens of game studios for slots. If you look at modern online casinos, they host thousands of games in the slots category alone. So, it’s no wonder that players have a hard time choosing what to play. This leads to decision fatigue, and most users will just stick to what they know or simply look for slots that look familiar. Given how many players grew up playing video games, they are likely to find slots themed around popular IPs in gaming more appealing.
Here are just a few examples of online slots that are themed after popular IPs:
- Street Fighter
- Call of Duty
- Slotomon Go (Pokemon Go)
- Resident Evil
- Hitman
- Tomb Raider
- Zuma
IP Crossovers Are a Thing Now
Movies, TV shows, and comic books have always had crossovers. It’s a nod to a fan base or fan service that allows creators to do something fun and make something epic. However, this used to be a special event, while nowadays, it’s all too common. It’s a way of doing cross-marketing, and games like Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty do it all the time. If the player base didn’t positively respond to this, it would simply stop, but that’s not the case.
What’s more, the ROI on these types of projects is likely better. Developers don’t need to invent something new. They just need an agreement with the IP owner and a design team that will add new assets.
Close Connections Between Gambling and Gaming
Both gambling and gaming are very common hobbies nowadays, so it’s only natural that many gamers will eventually try online casino games. But, it’s extremely important for new gamblers to pick a legitimate or certified online casino. Canadians, for example, find operators through Wagering Advisors or reviews that are available on their website specifically for readers in Canada. Additionally, the way video games are monetized also makes gambling seem more normal and less controversial.
If you recall, modern games sell lootboxes that are RNG-based. So, players are getting used to pouring money into a game until they get what they want. Another way games can promote gambling is through betting using in-game assets. An example would be skin-betting sites where you can wager weapon cosmetics from CS-GO. Finally, huge titles like Red Dead Redemption and GTA have gambling mini-games. Players who find it entertaining are more likely to give real gambling a shot.
Media Representation
Another factor to explains the growing popularity of gaming IPs in the casino industry and why gamers are starting to gamble more is media representation. Casinos and gambling are usually represented in movies as cool hobbies that give off a bad-boy vibe. Fictional characters who play video games are typically immature geeky losers, and many adults still share this point of view. Even if the industry has grown significantly and creates content that explores important topics, many just don’t take it seriously.
In other words, it’s not uncommon for older players to hide their affection for this hobby. They might feel embarrassed and simply turn to a different form of entertainment that’s considered cooler or more mature. Since they have an affinity towards IPs from the gaming industry, they are more prone to play slots like Street Fighter, Call of Duty, Hitman, and others.
Conclusion
There are many ways to explain the phenomenon of growing demand for branded slots. But the simplest explanation is that the gamer community is vast and that millions love those IPs. Casino businesses are aware of this and readily invest in IP-themed projects.