Five 2019 trends in gaming analytics

With 2.3 billion avid gamers worldwide and an eyewatering global spend of $137.9bn in 2018, according to NewZoo, the global gaming industry is a very serious business indeed. And, as $16.2bn has been added to its value since 2017, it's a steadily rising industry that is not showing any signs of slowing, with Reportlinker forecasting steady growth of 6% CAGR between 2019–27. As with any industry that has vast spending potential, the competition within the gaming world is intense and a number of names jostle for the top spot. These include the likes of Tencent, Sony, Blizzard, Nintendo – to name just a few – along with an intimidating pack of startups nipping at their heels, ready to break through and cause chaos if the establish brands dare to take a breather. And competitiveness crafts the perfect breeding ground for innovation, with the likes of AI, virtual reality (VR)/augmented reality (AR), blockchain and the IoT hosting unprecedented levels of gameplay and leaving players hungry for more. Ahead of our Gaming Analytics Summit, part of DATAx San Francisco, on May 14–15, 2019, DATAx counts down the five biggest trends in gaming in 2019.