Rolling Stone
From fighting for an inclusive industry to NSFW taking over a game, we look at the good, bad and ugly of gaming culture in 2023
Since the first popular video game came out over 50 years ago, they have often been called niche and cheesy – the arena of the basement dweller, the outcast, the arcade-addicted kid who didn’t want to engage in the real world. But that was never really true – and especially not now.
Today, Zelda, Mario and Sonic are household names. Building an epic world has become not only a career for game designers, but also a passion for countless creators. Hundreds of millions of people take to Twitch to watch others conquer bosses and reveal tips, and hundreds of millions more talk about it on Discord. League of Legends World Championship viewership rivals Super Bowl viewership. At this point, it is estimated that there are 3 billion gamers on the planet.
For decades, video game was a subculture. Now it has become the culture itself. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at all facets of the gaming world: introducing you to the most creative gamers, spotlighting what’s new and Hollywood adaptations we can’t wait to see, examining the fight to diversify the industry at both on screen and behind the scenes, and more. It’s a tribute to where the game has been – and where it’s headed next.