US and Canada's Thriving Gaming Scene

They are two nations that have lots of differences but there’s one current trend that has had a very similar significant impact in both the USA and Canada – the meteoric rise of gaming.

Everything from a quick fun game of blackjack at an online casino to a destination visit to Las Vegas has become immensely popular across the continent.

Gaming of all types has grown to form a major cultural and economic force in both countries.

The US is now one of the largest gaming markets in the world. The game industry here is valued at around $60.4 billion a year.

Canada, while much smaller in size, still has developed a thriving gaming industry. It is valued at approximately $4.5 billion.

In fact, Canada is now known globally for its game development scene. Cities like Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are home to major game development studios and events.

The economic impact of gaming is one big reason why the Canadian government strongly supports the industry through various tax incentives and funding programs. The tax benefits it brings is another.

The Latest Trends in North America

The game-playing fan-base in the US runs across most age groups and genders. The average age of a US gamer is now around 35 years old.

Similarly Canadian gamers span various ages, with a surprising number of older gamers.

Canadian women make up around 45% of the gaming population. In total, about 50% of Canadians identify as gamers.

In terms of platforms, in both the US and Canada console gaming remains very popular. PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch are the top brands.

PC gaming is also popular for more involved genres like strategy games and first-person shooters. Mobile gaming is seeing tremendous recent growth in both countries too.

Canadian gamers in particular seem to be showing a strong interest in the latest virtual reality and augmented reality gaming experiences, perhaps because of the innovative studios based in their country.

The Culture of Gaming

Gaming has had a profound cultural impact in the US. It now influences movies, TV shows, music and fashion.

Major American gaming events like E3 and PAX attract huge attention. The rise of gaming influencers and streamers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube has made gaming a central part of youth culture in the US.

Gaming is slightly less central to mainstream culture in Canada. Big events like the Montreal International Game Summit and Fan Expo Canada still attract massive coverage but it is still a little outside the popular media scene.

Behind-the-scenes however Canada’s contributions to game development are significant. Studios like Ubisoft Montreal, BioWare and EA Vancouver are becoming globally renowned.

And the presence of strong gaming communities and esports teams highlights the importance of gaming in Canadian society.

What Is Most Popular Right Now?

Console gaming still forms a big part of the scene in both countries. PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo are still the major brands of course and the most popular titles include the big titles like Call of Duty, Fortnite and Super Mario.

Assassin’s Creed, which was developed by Ubisoft in Montreal, is a particularly big success north of the border.

In the PC format, first-person shooters, role-playing games, real-time strategy and massively multiplayer online games are all the rage in both countries. This means big sales for famous titles like League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite and Minecraft.

The PC gaming scene in Canada gets an extra boost from the presence of several major game development studios plus a vibrant local modding community.

Like the rest of the world, iOS and Android apps dominate the world of mobile gaming in both the USA and Canada. Popular games currently include the everlasting Candy Crush Saga, Clash Royale and Genshin Impact.

Mobile gaming is the biggest growth area. It is growing rapidly in both countries, as players take advantage of the widespread use of smartphones, the development of high-quality, engaging game apps and increased free wi-fi and 4G and 5G signal coverage.

The Future of Gaming in the US and Canada

Industry insiders say the future of gaming in North America looks extremely bright. Technological advances and cultural trends point towards rapid continued growth and innovation.

Economic opportunities and supportive government policies will play crucial roles in shaping the industry too.

From online casinos to console developers, the gaming world has shown it can overcome challenges such as cybersecurity, data privacy and environmental sustainability.

This is why experts are predicting a prosperous and responsible future for all forms of gaming in the US and Canada.

And for us the players that means the future is very rosy indeed. Access to games we love will only get easier and easier – ad the games themselves are getting better and better too.