The thriving lockdown gaming communities

The gaming world is a place for people of all backgrounds to come together with a common purpose. With lockdowns in place across the world, gaming has become a sanctuary for many people, a safe space where they can connect with new and old friends and do what they enjoy most.

A gaming community is made up of people from all over the world, but they all have one thing in common. They love the game, and they want to talk to each other about why.

Prioritising your gaming community in these times could not be more important. Many communities have seen an influx of new members joining since the pandemic began in 2020, looking for new spaces to meet new friends and entertain themselves as the world began locking down.

But as many countries came out of lockdown, these new players decided to stay in-game, recognising the community that gaming provides and viewing them as complementary to their existing networks.

Communities allow players to discuss in-game activations, share tips and tricks and also provides a consistent form of socialisation and communication for those who may find it difficult to do so in person. A gaming community allows people to truly be themselves.

Gaming has seen a huge boost in sales since the pandemic began, and it’s important that companies do not lose sight of why new players have chosen to stay as gamers after lockdown ends.

In findings published in 2017, researchers from Edge Hill University in the UK found that massively multiplayer online games engagement correlated to a stronger sense of social identity, or how people self-identify based on their affiliation to groups. That social identity then corresponded with higher self-esteem and more social competence and lower levels of loneliness.

It’s vital that gaming publishers recognise the longstanding benefits that a social gaming community can bring, and continue to prioritise them in years to come.

Whether it’s ensuring resources are spent on improving the social aspects of games, creating exciting and engaging content for the community to enjoy or simply continuing to provide a safe haven for players to come together — our community has never been more important.

At Lockwood, we are always striving to provide the best experience for our players. Which is why throughout 2021 we’ll be continuing to create world-class content for our community to enjoy throughout the year.

Whether it’s exclusive concerts, celebrating holidays or just providing a space to chat — we’ve got it covered.

And as always, we hope to see you there!