UK regulators block Microsoft’s attempt to consolidate a gaming behemoth, sending Activision Blizzard stock spiraling. Microsoft faces a tough antitrust fight.

Gamers want to see creative ads that are seamlessly integrated into gameplay. Some 41% of US gamers ages 18 to 34 would like rewards for devoting time and attention to in-game ads. Meanwhile, 32% believe ads should never interrupt a hardcore gamer’s flow.

From gaming to streaming video and podcasts

The US is ready for gamified therapy: Video game-based digital therapeutic pioneer Akili is set to go public later this year. We detail why it won’t be the last of its kind to do so as the number of gamers grows in the US.

US smartphone gamers will spend $18.83 billion on virtual goods this year, a massive sum compared with the $0.78 billion they’ll spend on subscriptions. These intangible assets make up a growing industry in the gaming world, especially as more companies—from Nike to Spotify to Chipotle—enter the metaverse via games like Roblox.

Advertisers look to get into the game: Marketers can exploit the opportunities that video gaming presents to win new customers by identifying their target genre and desired outcomes.

Sony’s future gaming fortunes are in PC titles: The PlayStation maker is betting big on ports of its games on Windows PCs, a market where console rival Microsoft is already a dominant player.

FTC looking into Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buyout: The gaming acquisition frenzy could be cooled off by regulators on alert for anticompetitive advantages

ES: Pricing, performance, and ease of use dictated who owned the market in the early days of personal computing. Today, VR ecosystems and platforms continue that trend as the metaverse takes shape: Consumers, developers, and content producers will eventually decide the future of the metaverse, but they will be limited by hardware’s capabilities. We look at the state of VR hardware, the key players, and how gaming could serve as a gateway to VR/AR adoption.

Sightline Payments will work with Visa to power its Play+ cards, which can help digitize the cash-heavy casino and gaming sector.

On today's episode, we discuss whether watching TV with other people ruins the potential of targeted connected TV (CTV) ads, who's winning the CTV advertising race, and how CTV stacks up against traditional TV ad spending. "In Other News," we talk about Netflix's road map for video games and what to make of its 1 million user milestone for its ad tier. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Paul Verna.

AR, VR, and video games present opportunities that marketers can tap into right now.

Are recent video and gaming outages a sign of an overburdened infrastructure? The increase in high-resolution 4K video and demanding multiplayer games could be bogging down network connections.

Consolidation in the video game industry isn’t over: Electronic Arts is reportedly looking for a buyer or to merge with another media firm.

Activision Blizzard faces calls from fans, shareholders, and industry figures for its CEO to resign: Widespread backlash against the gaming company suggests that consumers are paying more attention to corporate social responsibility and ethics.

We break down the metaverse and how it can define the future of computing, gaming, finance, social media, and business: AR and VR technologies, expanding virtual platforms and ecosystems, as well as an appetite for more immersive experiences are pushing the boundaries of reality into the virtual world.

On today's episode, we discuss why Spotify is cautiously optimistic, the potential of video podcasts, and whether TikTok Music could be the next big podcast app. "In Other News," we talk about why people buy smart speakers and how crucial gaming is for Netflix's future. Tune in to the discussion with our analyst Daniel Konstantinovic and senior account director Michael Civins.

On today's episode, we discuss the biggest problem with media, how TikTok is taking on TV, how the newspaper business is getting on, the significance of the iPhone's 15th birthday, why you may buy your next car online, an unpopular opinion about Gen Zers and formal wear, the bestselling video game console of all time, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Dave Frankland and Evelyn Mitchell and director of reports editing Rahul Chadha.

On today's episode, we explore the "madness" surrounding the NCAA tournament each year, customers' reception of QR codes, soccer's rise in popularity in the US, discounts on Amazon Alexa, gaming subscriptions on the horizon, rules around how soccer players can celebrate during games, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our analysts Ross Benes and Dave Frankland and director of reports editing Rahul Chadha.

On today's episode, we discuss how Americans' attention shifted in 2021 (and what that means for the year ahead), the promise of ultra-fast delivery, the ideal amount of ads you should show viewers, whether gaming is more popular than TV for Gen Z, Facebook testing giving more control of the newsfeed to users, the office of the future, how far away the average American adult lives from their mother, and more. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer analyst Blake Droesch and principal analysts at Insider Intelligence Suzy Davidkhanian and Paul Verna.

On today's episode, we discuss whether the metaverse is even a good idea, what comes after primetime advertising, how powerful gaming influencers are, what everyone is doing on their second screens while watching TV, dislike buttons getting the thumbs down, the best "working from somewhere" tips, a little-known secret about the Statue of Liberty, and more. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior forecasting analyst Peter Vahle and principal analysts at Insider Intelligence Suzy Davidkhanian and Paul Verna.

In part two, our analysts Paul Verna and Andrew Lipsman discuss how well-positioned Silicon Valley giants Meta and Google and their Seattle counterparts Amazon and Microsoft are for top-gaining segments of digital advertising—gaming, digital audio, and in-store digital media. They also explore other companies positioning themselves for the post-cookie era of digital ads, and ultimately answer the question: Is Seattle—not Silicon Valley—the future of digital advertising?

On today's episode, we discuss whether anyone can help Twitter regardless of who owns it, why physical stores could be the next major media channel, how companies are marketing around this year's World Cup, the significance of Google closing its gaming offering Stadia, how to sell a moment, an explanation of how digital grocery buyers are changing, how far an electric vehicle can go on one charge, and more. Tune in to the discussion with our director of forecasting Oscar Orozco and analysts Ross Benes and Blake Droesch.

Once the domain of gamers and young social media users, AR and VR are entering the mainstream. This year, more than a quarter of the US population will use AR and nearly a fifth will use VR. As device-makers improve VR headsets and AR spreads to new use cases, the number of AR and VR users will continue to grow over the next four years, with AR outpacing VR.

At what point does a branded video game become advertising to children? The recent streak of partnerships between brands like Walmart and Spotify with Roblox are finding success but raising concerns.