Why Are More A-List Actors Going Into Video Games?

From starting out as a fair niche hobby that people played alone in their bedrooms, playing video games has grown into something far greater in recent years. $122bn was made in 2018, and revenue of over $190bn was forecast by 2022. This is part of a global success story around gaming in general where other forms of play such as games have become popular. The Hollywood online site shows this in action and also illustrates just how central to our lives all types of gaming have become.

When it comes to the growth of video games on consoles such as the PS4 and Xbox One, the games are the star. Many games will now hook fans in by using big A-list actors in them. But why are more Hollywood stars moving into video games, and how does this affect the industry?

A Great Career Move

In essence, this sums up why more and more A-listers are branching out into video game appearances or voiceovers. It allows them to diversify their income stream and connect with a far greater number of people than merely acting in movies alone. It is thought that two billion people game globally now, and this is a big market for A-listers to tap into. Of course, they also get paid for any work they do in a video game, which is handy for their bank balance!

We know why A-list actors get involved with video games now, but how has this impacted the sector?

Win-Win For Everyone Concerned

As well as video games bringing benefits to actors who work on them, the actors themselves help to move the sector forward. Having a star name on board helps the whole industry not only look cooler but also appeal to more people. This ability to move gaming more into the mainstream through the use of actors has helped it to get much more positive media exposure over time.

Using A-list names also simply helps games to sell more as people will buy them purely on the actor’s name being connected with it. This helps more money to come into the sector and also gives studios more money to develop new titles or new gaming tech. What are some good examples of games that have used famous actors?

Death Stranding

This 2019 PS4 release is an action game with a sci-fi twist from Kojima Productions. The game is set in the apocalyptic US and sees you play as Sam Bridges. In an open-world game, your main task is to reconnect the stricken land to a communication network and deliver key mail to isolated communities. This is a notable title for the inclusion of Hollywood actor Mads Mikkelsen, who appears in the action as a character called Cliff. Mikkelsen has appeared in many big films such as Doctor Strange and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, among others. Known for his charismatic delivery and intense screen presence, he was a real coup for this game.

Wheelman

Okay, this 2009 release may not have been that awesome, but it does have one saving grace: Vin Diesel. Star of the Fast & Furious movies as well as others such as The Chronicles of Riddick and Pitch Black, Diesel does lend a certain star quality to proceedings. The main in-game character of Milo Burik not only looks like him, but the actor also did the voiceover for the character. This is not surprising when you learn that the game was made by his own production company, Tigon Studios.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

We all know what the GTA series of games are about, so no introduction is necessary. However, this installment was notable for one special appearance: Burt Reynolds. The sadly departed star of such classics as Smokey and the Bandit played a real estate magnate in the game itself. By all accounts though, he was very difficult to work with, though the end results were magnificent. Although Reynolds has now sadly passed, his legacy lives on in this video game.

Video Games And A-List Stars Are The Perfect Match

As the above shows, big-name actors and video games make a good partnership. This is mainly because what they bring to the table is mutually beneficial to the other. Of course, having these well-known names on board is also great for us players. It not only gives us more interesting games to play but also lets us (sort of) hang out with our idols.