Next-gen gaming: Evolving concepts of creation, consumption, and community

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Video games are made of code and powered by technology, but they are also intrinsically linked to nebulous, ever-evolving contemplative theories, and the philosophies surrounding the definition and connotation of words like “play” and “game.” Underpinning these great, high-minded schools of thought — the ebb and flow of opinion — is the structure of business, consumerism, and marketing.

Take Final Fantasy, a franchise that has — perhaps more than any other — helped to define the prospect and growth of the video game industry. Over its nearly 35 years, Final Fantasy has been there as a hallmark of platform potential, embracing new forms of play, business models, and technology as a cornerstone of the medium. Even today it remains as viable and important as its 1987 launch with the engaging release of Final Fantasy VII Remake and work on an upcoming live-action Netflix series.

It is just one prime example of the industry’s past, present, and future.

Over the past several months, I spoke with a half-dozen great thinkers in the realms of design, research, development, and play to unearth others thoughts on how views and approaches to video games, development, and gameplay will evolve over the coming years.

To read the rest of this feature, which first ran on Dec. 2, 2020, visit Unreal Engine.