Last Updated on 1st September 2025

Read Time: 3.9 Minutes

1st September 2025

In this ever-changing digital age, the lines between different forms of media are constantly being blurred. We’re witnessing a new era where gaming is being intertwined with other industries to engage audiences and enhance entertainment experiences like never before.

The gaming industry is thriving and constantly growing, with a fanbase and community that is arguably unmatched. In the UK, the gaming industry was worth £7.7bn in 2022, and made more money globally than the music, television and film industries combined.

Exploring Gaming Beyond Consoles

When you think of gaming, you may think of a computer, a console, or a mobile phone. However, the industry of gaming has expanded far beyond this, from establishing itself in Hollywood with highly anticipated movies to award-winning soundtracks.

Film and Television

Some of the most popular films and television shows in recent years have been based on video games, including The Last of Us, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Fallout and Borderlands. These adaptations of games stir plenty of discussions online, allowing them to reach a new audience as well as supercharging fan engagement.

Music

The mixing of the gaming and music industries has garnered significant popularity from various audiences. This has been seen most recently on Fortnite, where it hosted live virtual musical performances in-game and featured a world-famous line-up including Snoop Dogg, Ice Spice, Eminem and Juice WRLD. This online event amassed an audience of over 14 million players, breaking Fortnite’s record for an in-game concert.

Alternatively, we can see gaming soundtracks evolving from the traditional ‘pixelated’ music of 80s-esque gaming. In 2024, the Recording Academy added a new category: best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media. Winners of the award has included Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. This recognition of music artistry within the gaming industry is significant, with the Recording Academy stating that music is an important factor when experiencing video games.

Live Events

Gaming has further expanded into tangible real-world events, with countless conventions being held globally such as TwitchCon and Blizzcon. These events often seek to celebrate various aspects of gaming, such as cosplaying as favourite characters, listening to commentary from panels of voice actors and game creators, as well as socialising with other game fanatics.

However, when it comes to gaming and live events, the esports industry takes the lead and has boomed majorly in the UK. Valued at £111.5m in 2020 and growing significantly since, esports has opened a new door for many young gamers to use their talents and passion to play on the world stage and be watched by millions of people, both online and in-person.

Online Communities

When you think of a gamer, you probably think of the stereotype: a lonely teen gamer in their darkened room, glued to a screen and locked away from the outside world. However, this is no longer the case. Many modern gamers are actively social through many digital and in-person means, connecting through their shared interests and passionate pastimes.

Platforms like Twitch and Discord cater to people who want to discuss their passion for gaming, whether it’s sharing theories on character lore or discussions about upcoming releases. Some people will meet in these communities and become great friends even though they’re dotted around the globe and may have never actually met in-person.

What Does This Mean for Children and Young People?

Benefits

Opportunities for socialising – Gaming offers a way to build friendships for those who may struggle to do so through in-person settings.
Developing transferable skills – Teamwork, problem solving and coding are all skills that can be built through gaming.
Transforming a hobby into a career – Esports and other sectors related to gaming offer young people opportunities to pursue a career in something they enjoy.

Risks

Interaction with strangers – Due to the multiplayer element of many online games, it exposes children and young people to adults who might seek to groom or exploit them.
Exposure to harmful content – Children and young people can come across content that makes them uncomfortable or scared. This is most often when they are playing games that are not age-appropriate.
Normalising inappropriate behaviours – Other users may use language that is offensive or derogatory and this can make children and young people think that it is normal.

The Friend Ship

An Adventure in Cyber Space

Embark on a cyber space adventure with ‘The Friend Ship’, a children’s book designed to help parents, carers, and safeguarding professionals plant seeds of safety in young minds. Join Jack and his dog, Freddie on a journey through app age restrictions and friend requests as they decide who to let onboard and when to call the Mothership for guidance.

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