Why the next big consumer platforms are social games

In a world awash with information and eye candy, “social gaming” is rapidly evolving as the largest existential threat to legacy media’s claim on engaged consumer attention. Trust and manipulation issues are also causing people to look beyond incumbent social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Games are the next social network. Fortnite looks more like FB than it does a traditional shooter game. For many, the battle royale has become secondary to the party: ex: 11M people attended Fortnite’s live, in-game Marshmello concert earlier this year.

Existing matchmaking solutions and social tools embedded in most platforms today are inadequate, and much of Fortnite and Minecraft’s success can be attributed to their ability to become social metaverses that could act as a concert venue or graduation ceremony, bringing people together in unique ways that would otherwise not be possible.