According to Gamefam, the gaming industry in the metaverse, which is expected to reach $168.4 billion by 2030, promises to become one of the most profitable and fastest-growing segments of the market. Unlike skeptics who consider the metaverse concept to be a utopia, in practice we are seeing how virtual worlds and games within them are becoming an increasingly significant part of the modern economy and culture. This trend is not just being discussed—it is actively developing, and companies like Gamefam are clearly demonstrating its potential.
Gaming as a New Form of Media
If anyone still doubts that games in the metaverse can become the central element of a global media platform, recent successful projects should clarify everything. One bright example is Gamefam’s advertising campaign during the Super Bowl. The essence of the project was the launch of a series of games in the metaverse, with SpongeBob character avatars as rewards for participants. Despite the fact that the idea might seem unconventional, the results served as a clear confirmation of the metaverse’s potential as a marketing platform: 75 million visits, nearly 350 million interactions with the brand, and 1 billion minutes of gameplay. These figures show that the audience is not only ready for such formats but also actively engages in virtual activities.
UGC Gaming: A New Trend
Despite all the talk about the “metaverse,” Joe Ferencz notes that the term has lost its original meaning in recent years, becoming synonymous with unpopular cryptocurrency projects and fragmented technologies. Instead, he prefers to speak about **UGC gaming**—games with user-generated content, where players don’t just participate in pre-created scenarios but also become creators of content themselves. This phenomenon is significantly changing the landscape of the industry: games are becoming platforms for self-expression, idea exchange, and creativity development.
Platforms like Roblox and Fortnite offer users unique opportunities to create their own worlds and share them with other players. This is not just entertainment; it’s a whole ecosystem where content is just as important as gameplay itself. This is what makes UGC gaming so attractive to younger audiences: here, players don’t just play—they actively participate in creating content and developing virtual worlds.
Metaverse Platforms: A New Trend for Brands
While we are seeing brands experiment with virtual worlds, such as launching unique items in Roblox or creating special events in Fortnite, this is only the beginning. In the future, according to Gamefam’s predictions, by 2025 Roblox could become the primary channel for marketing targeted at younger audiences. Just a few years ago, YouTube seemed like an eccentric platform for advertising, but today virtual worlds like Roblox and Fortnite could take its place as the main channel of interaction with the generation raised in a digital environment.
Furthermore, the gaming market in the metaverse is becoming increasingly important for large companies that see in it not just an entertainment opportunity but also the potential for creating new business models. Virtual events, like what happened with the Super Bowl, open new horizons for marketing, and the ability to engage with the audience in interactive formats significantly boosts involvement.
Looking to the Future
Each year, the metaverse and virtual gaming market attracts more investors, gamers, and brands. The gaming industry in virtual worlds is already showing real results, not just following trends. By 2030, it is expected that the number of gamers in the metaverse will reach 900 million people, and the total value of this industry will grow to $168.4 billion. Companies like Gamefam are already playing a key role in this process by connecting brands with Generation Z and Alpha and creating unique formats for audience engagement.
Thus, the future of the gaming industry in the metaverse is already here, and it promises to be not only profitable but also incredibly interesting for all participants in the process—from developers and brands to the players themselves.
In upcoming articles, we will explore tokens related to this industry and discuss their philosophy and investment strategies.
