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Wondering why Hollywood’s focus seems to be homing in on the worlds and characters first encountered in video games? Click here to read more.

Why is Hollywood Suddenly So Inspired by Gaming?

Hollywood is, in many ways, the manifestation of the impassioned artist. It is driven by inspirations which seem to consume the entire industry. For varying lengths of times, mainstream movies all seem to pursue the same muse with a singularity unmatched by any other area of the world of entertainment. 

Back in the 80s, for instance, it was deep space. In more recent years, general consensus seems to be that every other film now seems to be about superheroes – although whether or not this is deemed a good thing remains with the individual viewer. 

Now, however, it feels as though Hollywood – and mainstream movie production in general – is growing increasingly interested in utilising the video game industry as a muse for their next batch of titles, as shown in this top 10 list of the best gambling movies of all times.

Interestingly, the video game industry has been operating in tandem with the world of film and TV for around four decades now. For many years, game developers have worked to release titles off the back of popular movie franchises, and yet the reverse – movies utilising the most popular video games – has remained something of a rare occurrence…until now. From Mortal Kombat to Resident Evil, Tomb Raider, Assassin’s Creed, The Witcher, and Just Cause, some of the most anticipated upcoming movies and series are inspired by video games. 

Read more below. 

It is in the Middle of a Revolution

The video game has, since its humble roots back in the 8-bit days of Atari and Sega, represented a force in perpetual motion. From developments in the arena of technology, to a growing sense of self-competition among the creatives driving titles forward, each year has, without fail, seen a wealth of growth and development that makes it entirely distinct from the one that came before. 

That said, the past few years – since around 2016 – have seen this sense of growth gain speed at a remarkable rate, and transform the entire industry beyond what any of us could have anticipated back in the early 2010s. From incredible developments in the technological capabilities of the consoles, to massive strides forward in the quality demonstrated by some of the longest lasting niches within the industry, such as online poker, even the most casual observer could attest to the fact that the video game industry is seeing a massive spike in activity in recent years. 

Interestingly, many predictions see video gaming surpassing the movie industry in the coming years. What’s more, an increasing number of Hollywood’s most notable actors, such as Keanu Reeves and Jeff Goldblum, are turning their hand to acting within games, thus demonstrating quite how much weight this industry has gathered in the wider world of entertainment. 

Gaming Boasts an Enviable Audience

Once upon a time, the gaming industry was defined by a single stereotype – an image of what it means to be ‘a gamer’. Whether this once held true, even for a very limited amount of time, or never truly represented the sort of person interested in gaming, it is an immutable fact that, these days, gamers exist across every demographic imaginable. As such, the gaming industry has proven itself capable of catering to an incredibly broad spectrum of interests and tastes.

For an industry that has, in recent years, been accused of digging too deep into its own niches, the movie industry could stand to benefit massively from the diversity and broad creativity shown within the world of video gaming. 

That’s not to say, of course, that the movie industry has lost that creative spark that once drove it forward. Rather, that by joining forces within the video game industry, it can benefit from a fresh perspective on the interests and preoccupations of their colossal viewership. 

It has never been the case that the movie and video gaming industries exist in competition with one another; very few of us would view it as an either/or situation. Both maintain a strong standing in the lives of millions of people across the globe, and yet continue to find value in forging collaborative relationships. Not only does it promise a wider net with which to capture the hearts of those viewers who, in recent years, may have fallen out of favour with mainstream cinema, but it also enables the viewer and the creative alike to explore some of the most beloved worlds, lore and characters deeper than ever before. 

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