The gaming industry is forever growing. According to an online article on the World Economic Forum, quoting data from a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report for 2022 to 2026, the industry could reach a value of $321 billion by 2026. Many existing and new gamers spent money on games and gaming kit from 2019 to 2021, causing the market to expand by 26%. Gaming is an escape and an opportunity to connect with likeminded people, and naturally, companies in the industry couldn’t have been happier to see more people get into it.
And it’s not just guys who enjoy gaming. Women have been getting heavily into this leisure activity. Whether it’s gaming on a slot machine or getting behind a console and playing video games, gaming is no longer the domain of men (if it ever was in the first place). Below is a look at the rise of women in gaming, at the obstacles women have to overcome in gaming and at successful women in gaming.
The rise of women in gaming
According to a 2022 report by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), more than 41% of US gamers are women. Women constitute 31% of the game playing population over 18 years old, and 37% of the most frequent game purchasers are women. An article in Forbes online, citing figures from Google and Niko Partners, states that out in Asia, which accounts for around 48% of the world’s total gaming revenue, 40 to 45% of the gaming population are women.
Research has tried to understand women’s motives are for playing games and their game-playing behaviors. Country-specific research has revealed differences in gaming motivations cross culturally. Women in France, for instance, appear to be seeking challenge for themselves and competition, whereas in Taiwan women seem to be gaming more for social reasons and achievement. In the US, besides for achievement, women play games to engage socially and maintain relationships.
Surmounting obstacles
Unfortunately, the challenges of the games aren’t the only ones women encounter in gaming world, especially in esports. There’s a lack of diversity in the esports world. Only a single digit percentage of professional gamers competing in world championships are female, despite clear indications that more women are interested in competing in esports. Some observers out there on the internet have called for the inclusion of more women in pro teams and for the presence of women’s teams in pro tournaments.
Lack of resources for women’s teams and leagues is another problem. Esports can be highly lucrative and reward teams with all the perks you’d expect for a sports team, such as high-profile sponsorships and investment, professional coaching and training, substantial salaries and chances of striking the big time at tournaments. Access to all this isn’t as easily available for women, and there have been calls to allocate the same resources men receive.
More unpleasantly, women also have to contend with discrimination and with harassment from males in not just esports but also elsewhere in the gaming industry. Both online and workplaces, women encounter misogynistic comments and behavior. They receive abusive messages while gaming or engaging in gaming communities. Some voices on the internet have suggested flagging this kind of behavior.
A further and final obstacle women face is a general lack of support and mentorship. This can impact their careers if they’re looking to pursue career ambitions in the world of game development. Thankfully, organizations such as Girls Who Code and Women in Games are creating experiences that seek to empower women in the gaming industry.
Successful women in gaming
Despite the world of gaming favoring men more than women just now, there are women managing to succeed in professional gaming and make a name for themselves. Here are some of them:
Ailey
“Ailey” is Alyona Burdokova, a Russian “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” specialist who has become famous within the gaming community for her success at the game. She’s competed in at least five tournaments of the game and, in 2018, finished first overall in the women’s tournament.
Kat Gunn
Anyone looking for inspiration to go into competitive gaming need look no further than Kat Gunn. Kat has competed in the World Cyber Games and, during the Championship Gaming Series, played for the Carolina Core. She has appeared on gaming TV shows and has a following of more than 43,000 followers on Instagram, all hungry for her gaming tips and advice.
Candy
Alyona Kuvaeva, who goes by the name of “Candy” as a gamer, is another pro from Russia. “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” is her specialty. As sweet an innocent as the name might sound, don’t underestimate her. Along with “Ailey” and another Russian pro gamer called “Nast1a” (real name: Anastasiya Evdokina) Ailey returned victorious from the World Electronic Sports Games 2017 (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Female) competition.
Women are getting heavily into gaming, but face many challenges in competitive gaming and working in the gaming industry. The pro gamers above have shown it’s possible, however, to be successful and, hopefully, more women will emulate their success.
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