Humans have played games with one another for as long as we have existed. From primitive sticks and stones during the caveman era to online gaming in 2025, we have always found ways to connect and entertain ourselves through a variety of games. The advent of the internet means we are no longer limited to playing games only with those we can see in person.
Using a wide range of platforms, we can now play games with people all over the world at any given time, and this has had a notable effect on modern social life in the following ways:
Exploring New Technologies
If there’s anything that online gaming is known for, it is embracing new technologies and encouraging players to do the same. Take cryptocurrency, for example. The asset class has become a big part of many online gaming communities, with tokens being earned and spent on in-game tools and real-world rewards. This has seen many online gamers embrace cryptocurrency, whether for their own gaming and enjoyment or in real life. With this in mind, many are looking to secure crypto wallets to keep their assets safe, which pushes the boundaries of what you can do with digital assets.
The same can be said of things like virtual and augmented reality. These two technologies have been on the rise for years, and online gaming communities see more people embracing them to enhance the gaming experience. Needless to say, if there is any sort of technology that can enhance an online entertainment experience, online gaming communities will be at the forefront.
Creating Dedicated Communities
As the name would imply, online gaming communities are a hub of consumers meeting and developing camaraderie with each other. Consider the fact that many online games require teamwork and strategy, much of which is developed between people in different parts of the world. It is not unusual for people to make friends and even develop romantic connections via online gaming, and this pushes the boundaries of how we create connections. Twenty years ago, it would have been an odd concept to have some, if not the majority, of your friends online, but now, making a friend you’ve never seen in person through gaming is quite common.
And these connections go beyond just gaming itself. Last year, for example, several protests took place within the Roblox universe, led by children who couldn’t attend in-person protests. Celebrities have begun holding concerts and events in these virtual universities to cater to fans, and this is a core example of these communities’ influence.
Creating Online And Offline Trends
The power in online gaming communities is not just creating connections among people online but also generating trends, both online and offline. The passionate community of online gamers often have in-universe slang, references, characters, and practices that they develop and evolve. Many of these become so popular that they influence online culture even outside of gaming spaces. Even if you don’t play online games, you likely know what a loot box or a game skin is. When these trends are taken into the material world, they often continue to see dominance.
Take the recent Minecraft movie, which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, as well as dominating the movie conversation for weeks on end. Many were amazed to see the packed movie theatres, which often devolved into mayhem, supporting the film. This goes to show just how online gaming communities can influence not just online behaviour but offline consumer action as well.
Creating Entertainment Subniches
While gameplay is often the foundation of online gaming communities, these spaces have also given rise to a variety of content-based subniches. Consider streamers who broadcast themselves playing games for hours on end—many of whom have become millionaire entrepreneurs in the process. There are also reaction channels that respond to gaming content, as well as both fan-led and official tournaments.
Online gaming communities influence modern life in part because so many other forms of entertainment and commerce can emerge from them. As these communities grow, new subniches will continue to develop.
As seen with the Minecraft movie, entertainment tied to online gaming also continues to be profitable. While movie critics and film lovers debate the value of franchise-based films, recent box office performance shows there is still strong demand for them.
