Video Games as an Integral Part of New Zealand Culture

New Zealand is a gaming nation with 67% of the population playing video games, and 46% of gamers are female. The average player is 34 and spends around 88 minutes a day playing video games. The booming of this sector is incredible because, based on a new report; the gaming industry in New Zealand saw a $121 million surge in profit in the last few months.

In 2020, the video games annual revenue surpassed $324 million with 42% annual growth. How have video games become culturally dominant in New Zealand?

NZ Online Gaming Industry Statistics

New Zealanders of all ages and genders are all video games enthusiasm. The gaming industry has shown considerable growth because the sector earned NZD$143m, with a 43% rise in 2017. On 31 March 2018, the number of game developers and artists increased, recording 550 names around New Zealand.

Regarding the online gambling industry, New Zealand continues to evolve with growing interest in casinos and various online platforms and the government's ongoing efforts to regulate and ensure responsible gambling practices. This evolution has led to various casino promotions and no deposit free spins offers at such New Zealand platforms as Casinodeps.co.nz, which are very popular among punters.

It creates new opportunities and challenges for operators and the industry as a whole. The video game industry offers many opportunities for New Zealanders, with 30% for artists, 30% for programmers, 10% for game designers, 15% for production and Q&A, and 15% for managers.

New Zealand Game Developers Association

With the growth of the gaming industry, NZGDA was established to support the video game development industry. The New Zealand Game Developers Association was formed in 2001 gathering programmers, entrepreneurial indies, managers, animators, game designers, artists, testers, producers, and customer support.

When joining the association, the members will have the opportunity to stamp their mark on games because the association self-publish hit games and seduces investment and attention from world-leading publishers. The membership will not only benefit from conference discounts and scholarships but they can also attend networking and professional development events.

Kiwis’ Favourite Games in 2023

Playing video games is a staple of New Zealanders’ lives, which have been ingrained into their cultures over the years. As video games are designed for special categories and genres, gamers can choose their favourite titles among the different types of games. To find the most popular video games, the Kiwis should visit Games Sales Data's website https://igea.net/. This first video games chart offers sales data in both retail and digital markets. Here are the New Zealanders preferred games in 2023.

FIFA 23

Football enthusiasts will enjoy FIFA, published by Electronic Arts. The football simulation video game is the 30th instalment in the FIFA series that is developed by EA Sports, which is the final under the partnership between EA and FIFA.

The game is the final instalment under the FIFA banner launched on 30 September 2022 for PC, Google Stadia, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

Grand Theft Auto V

The action-adventure video game Grand Theft Auto V was developed by Rockstar North and released by Rockstar Games. Grand Theft Auto V focuses on the heist sequences with several missions, entailing shooting and driving gameplay.

The game can be played in first-person or third-person perspective where the players control the three lead protagonists who navigate on foot and by vehicle. The players’ mission is to roam the open world including the city of Los Santos and fictional Blaine County.

Metro Exodus

The first-person shooter video game Metro Exodus was developed by 4A Games and released by Deep Silver. The game is based on Dmitry Glukhovsky's novels following the events of Metro: Last Light and Metro 2033. The third game in the post-apocalyptic shooter series is set in the year 2035, one year after the events of Metro: Last Light.

Metro Exodus was launched by Stadia, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation in 2019. The enhanced version of the game was released for Microsoft Windows on 6, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5 in 2021.

Fallout 4

The popular game Fallout 4 is the fourth main game in the Fallout series launched in 2015. The game is set in an open-world post-apocalyptic environment, covering the Massachusetts region and the city of Boston. Fallout 4’s main story occurs in 2287, which is 210 years after "The Great War" and ten years after the events of Fallout 3.

The plyers’ mission is to control a character called the "Sole Survivor". This person appears from a long-term cryogenic stasis in Vault 111, an underground fallout shelter.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Another renowned game among New Zealanders is Red Dead Redemption 2, a game developed and published by Rockstar Games. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the prequel to the 2010 game Red Dead Redemption and the third entry in the Red Dead series.

The game is an action-adventure set in 1899 and follows the exploits of the outlaw of a notorious gang Arthur Morgan. Arthur must fight against the Wild West, the rival gangs, government forces, and other several adversaries. Red Dead Redemption 2 official release was in 2018.

Bottom Line

Playing video games has always been a popular hobby in New Zealand but it has become amazingly increased since the pandemic lockdowns. This entertainment has maintained important social connections, honing their social skills as they learn the significance of sharing.

The good news is that New Zealand is the target of the greatest game development companies. It is no wonder to see many Kiwis enjoying video games alone or playing multiplayer games with friends and family at home or outside, depending on their choice.