The Golden Age of Multiplayer Games

Online multiplayer gaming has become a golden age in the gaming industry, with more than 1 billion gamers playing online globally in 2022. The phenomenon was sparked by games like Overwatch and Fortnite Battle Royale, which brought the subculture to critical mass. Fortnite, in particular, became a cultural phenomenon, creating its own celebrities, inspiring crazes, and even recruiting mainstream entertainers.

The cultural clout and commercial stakes for online multiplayer video games are high. Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of video game publisher Activision sparks antitrust concerns, particularly around Call of Duty, the most profitable online multiplayer franchise in video game history. Critics fear that Microsoft may eventually lock PlayStation users out of the player base, but Microsoft has promised not to do so.

Blizzard's launch of Overwatch 2 and Epic's release of a new chapter of Fortnite showcase online multiplayer games' ongoing success. Epic's continually updating Fortnite seems more modern than Activision's strategy of releasing sequels. Many multiplayer games, such as World of Warcraft, Roblox, League of Legends, Minecraft, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, have remained popular for over a decade, with Counter-Strike: GO recently setting a new record for concurrent players. Final Fantasy XIV, initially a single-player game, has become a massively multiplayer online role-playing game with over 27 million users. The biggest online multiplayer games often develop their subcultures.

As the gaming industry grows at a breakneck speed, the options remain diverse. Online games like single-player video games like Grand Theft Auto V and The Last of Us remain popular among players, not forgetting real-money gambling activities like betting. Still, multiplayer games are coming big.

However, even successful single-player games often include multiplayer modes. The esports industry is still developing and facing challenges in generating revenue, but the trend in gaming is toward online multiplayer games, especially among younger players. A recent survey found that while all age groups still enjoy single-player games, younger players are more likely to prefer or be open to both single-player and multiplayer formats.

The gaming industry has experienced a significant shift towards online multiplayer gaming, which has become a more social experience than before. In the past, multiplayer gaming was limited to local play, such as splitting an arcade cabinet or console controllers among a few players. However, the development of telecommunication infrastructure and matchmaking algorithms has led to the growth of a seemingly bottomless player base filled with strangers. Initially, the industry was fragmented between PC and console gamers, but the advent of LAN parties allowed players to play together on a local network. The once-stereotyped, solitary gamer has become a seamless social and online gaming monoculture.

The first online multiplayer boom started with Ultima Online and EverQuest in the late 1990s. EverQuest is a team-based fantasy game where players form guilds to embark on raids, quests, and other explorations. It was exclusive to the PC in March 1999 because the original PlayStation couldn't connect to the internet then. Final Fantasy XI, the first MMORPG in the Final Fantasy series, launched on the PlayStation 2 and PC in May 2002, and it was also one of the first online multiplayer games of any kind to run on the PlayStation 2. At launch, it was a curious experiment in a console market still underprepared for the internet. However, in the long term, it became one of the most successful games in the series.

The introduction of Xbox Live and Halo 2 revolutionized online multiplayer gaming, and other franchises like Call of Duty and Madden NFL followed suit by prioritizing online multiplayer features over single-player campaigns. Ultimate Team, EA Sports’ default online mode, became a massive success, generating over $1.6 billion in revenue in 2021 alone. While some dedicated single-player fans feel neglected, multiplayer modes continue to receive significant updates and dominate the gaming industry.