Gen Z is shaping the gaming and iGaming markets as games and payment methods are tailored to them

Gen Z is the first generation to have grown up digitally. The digital world is their world, and they expect it to give them a personal and meaningful experience. Their expectation extends to gaming and iGaming.

Gaming platforms and developers know that meeting the expectations of Gen Z is key to growth, which is why they tailor gaming content and payment options to this generation more than any other right now.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a vital role as it allows developers to create more expressive characters that appeal to the emotional intelligence of Gen Z players and help them create closer bonds with the game and other players. Overall, the gaming experience is becoming more immersive.

Conversely, the simple graphics and technology of retro games also appeal to Gen Z. The attraction is part of an emergence in the popularity of vintage technology overall. While the reason for Gen Z’s love of retro gaming is unclear, it seems to come from the escapism that a fun and simple game provides.

Crash games are the equivalent of this in iGaming. Their simple premise is appealing to Gen Z. Players visit online sites to play these games, which include features like automatic cashouts, bonuses, and social elements such as leaderboards and live chats. Features at these sites, coupled with the games' simplicity, create their appeal with Gen Z, which influences top crash game developers like SPRIBE to continue bringing new titles and initiatives to the market.

Members of Gen Z who play retro games and crash games have said they help relieve stress and anxiety. This seems to be a pattern for gaming overall, and developers are aware of it as they create games that provide a social experience while allowing players to escape from reality. The social experience resonates with younger players who prefer games that allow them to interact with others.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising that Gen Z often prefers multiplayer games as they seek a sense of community. This need for community is influencing the gaming and iGaming market today and will continue to do so. The figures show how important this aspect of gaming is, with 44% of Gen Z saying their interaction with gaming is far more than just the games themselves.

They also listen to gaming podcasts, attend gaming conventions, and socialize with other gamers. In many cases, gamers hang out without actually playing. The gaming connection is enough for them to make and sustain relationships. Given this wider influence of gaming, developers and producers create content and advertising around popular franchises like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto to attract and retain the attention of Gen Z.

The dedication to appealing to Gen Z is understandable, given the monetization potential involved. For example, around 62% of Gen Z players make in-app purchases, with around 17% making these purchases daily. They tend to spend most on in-game currencies.

Blockchain technology is more regularly being used to create currencies and NFTs that can be used in games. Gamers can often also trade these elements for cryptocurrencies, making them an attractive addition to the gaming landscape.

Cryptocurrencies' transparency and inclusivity appeal to Gen Z's nature. They see the blockchain technology behind cryptocurrencies as placing people on an equal footing and removing the secrecy of central authorization. They also embrace the digital nature of cryptocurrencies as they have only ever known a digital world.

This Gen Z love affair with all things digital extends to mobile technology. They expect their favorite games to be easily accessible and playable using a smartphone or tablet. This mobile accessibility allows them to play and interact with other gamers from any location with Internet access.

Operators in the gaming market understand the monetization potential of Gen Z, analyze their gaming preferences, and tailor games, payment methods, and advertising to them. They know that these younger players enjoy the social aspect of gaming and give them opportunities to build gaming attachments by creating emotionally engaging and immersive content and designing more advanced multi-player experiences.

They also know how to embrace the digital world that is so important to Gen Z by using mobile and crypto technology. Doing this attracts Gen Z players who seek transparent, easily accessible gaming experiences tailored to them. As technology advances and the Metaverse has a growing influence on gaming, there will be more opportunities for digital-first players from Gen Z to shape the gaming and iGaming markets.