How The Internet Transformed Game Culture

If friends wanted to play video games together, someone usually had to come over. There could be arguments about who got the good controller or why it was your turn after you lost. Now they can live in different states and still meet up for a game. Some apps even let eligible users make money playing games, although the amounts vary and shouldn't be counted on.

A 1999 report found that 18.1% of households using entertainment software on a computer played games online. It has been reported that nearly 90% of video game players had played online by 2024. The earlier survey looked at a different group of people, so the percentages aren’t directly comparable, but the surveys show that online gaming has become more common. Getting online once involved slow connections and complicated setups. Today, online gaming is built into consoles, phones, and computers.

Playing Together Without Being In The Same Space

A random match can be the start of a multiplayer friendship. Two people get on the same team, play another round, and start to recognize each other’s usernames. Months down the line, they might know about each other’s jobs, families, and even bad taste in music without ever having met.

For younger players, this isn’t uncommon. In 2024, it was found that 47% of teens who play video games have made an online friend through a game they both played.

The practical side is that people who move away can still have a weekly game night. Meeting strangers online can, however, also mean having to deal with insults, harassment, or unwanted messages. Blocking and reporting tools may help, but public game chats can sometimes have unfriendly people.

Online friendships have their own special etiquette. Some groups expect everyone to be on a mic, while others are perfectly happy with strictly text communication. If a player can’t make a scheduled match, they can let the others know, almost like calling off dinner plans. People who can’t meet friends in person may have regular online game sessions because it’s an easy way to stay connected.

Watching Is Almost As Popular As Playing

Watching someone else play used to mean sitting on the couch waiting for your turn. These days, people watch livestreams because maybe they like a creator’s jokes, or they want to see a difficult game finally beaten. Sometimes, someone may just need help with a level that’s been driving them crazy.

Gaming videos can influence people’s buying habits. Watching someone play a game can give viewers a better sense of its pace and difficulty than a polished trailer might. Even smaller games gain a new following when streamers pick them up.

Esports has brought a whole new sort of fan, because competitive matches have teams, commentators, and audiences that follow the results. Viewers can watch tournaments from home and discuss the player’s decision in a forum afterward.

Fans write walkthroughs for older games, they post fan art, and they help new players who missed a clue or can’t beat a certain boss. Someone can even make modifications that alter the way a game works. Developers almost immediately hear complaints about updates, but a busy forum is not always representative of what most players want.

A positive effect is that older games don’t always disappear when something newer comes along. Players can seek out tutorials on how to run an old computer game, find other fans who still play it, or join discussions about the details they missed the first time. Someone’s childhood game might still have an active following decades later.

Games Can Become A Place To Spend Money

Years ago, a game would come on a disk or a cartridge with most of its content already there. Today some titles sell extra levels, character outfits, or seasonal content after the game is released. Small purchases can eventually add up, especially when the cost is displayed in virtual coins rather than dollars.

Rewards have also become more common, since some games give players points or cosmetic items for finishing challenges. Some apps offer limited incentives for eligible activities. Redemption rules, minimum balances, and location restrictions apply. Don’t expect these offers to cover your bills.

There are other costs to being connected online. Many games played online need large downloads, a stable internet connection, or subscriptions. Players also need to make sure they protect their privacy when they are chatting with strangers online or giving out account information.

A limited-time event can turn what was meant to be a half-hour of play into an entire evening. But the old-fashioned game night is not dead. People can still sit on a couch together arguing over a controller, or go home and keep playing online. The internet provided a second option and an enormous pool of potential participants.

BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.