The article discusses how 5 top gaming investors, including Gigi Levy-Weiss and Amit Kumar, see the pandemic reshaping MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online) and social games. The investors highlight several key areas where the industry is evolving:
- Increased emphasis on live operations: With the adoption of free-to-play and games-as-a-service models, gaming companies need to focus on efficient live operations to give their games longevity.
- Toxic player behavior management: Investors are looking for startups that can help developers manage toxic player behavior, which is a significant problem in online multiplayer games.
- Efficient user acquisition (UA) tools: Mobile game companies want all-in-one solutions combining ad networks, ad mediation, and other UA tools to handle their activities in-house.
- Viewership participation: Companies building games with wide viewer participation may integrate with tools and services that allow for spectator gameplay.
Some specific areas where the investors see opportunities include:
- Building tools for developers to tackle toxic player behavior
- Developing transparent cross-game ID systems with proper incentives for players
- Creating platforms for efficient live operations, such as content, event, and monetization management
Investors mentioned in the article include Gigi Levy-Weiss, Amit Kumar, Eric Cohen-Peckham, Carly Page, Kyle Wiggers, Aisha Malik, Sean O’Kane, Maxwell Zeff, and Lauren Forristal.
