Online gaming has exploded in popularity in recent times. Players can log in and play their favorite games via purpose-built consoles, PCs, laptops, and tablets, and the incredible variety of games means there’s truly something for everyone.
While many of us recognize the most popular titles in the world of online gaming, such as Grand Theft Auto Online, the FIFA football series, and the Call of Duty franchise, we don’t always stop to think about the software developers behind our favorite games.
Therefore, this post looks at some of the biggest online gaming software houses and offers an insight into their most popular games and achievements.
Rockstar
The team behind the immensely popular Grand Theft Auto series, Rockstar Games, is an offshoot of Take-Two Interactive, an American video game holding company based in New York City.
In recent years, Rockstar has been responsible for a range of popular titles, none more so than Grand Theft Auto & Red Dead Redemption, both open-world adventure games featuring outlaw characters, intricate stories, and complex missions where crime pays!
More than 33.8 million players have logged in to play GTA Online on a range of consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. In March of 2021, more than 90,000 gamers were playing online via Steam at one time, which is only one of five platforms on which the popular game can be played.
In 2020 alone, GTA V generated around $1 billion in revenue for Take-Two Interactive via Rockstar. It’s clear that they’re doing something right, and gamers are eagerly awaiting the arrival of GTA VI, which Rockstar admits is in the pipeline.
Activision
To give the company its full name, Activision Blizzard has consistently wowed online gamers over the years with some of the most popular titles ever produced. It’s crazy to think that Activision is responsible for all-time classics like Call of Duty, Crash Bandicoot, and Tony Hawk Skateboarding, all of which have become wildly popular across various gaming platforms.
The immense popularity of the Call of Duty franchise has transformed the landscape of first-person shooter games, with the latest COD release, Warzone, topping 85 million players in 2020. Online gamers love the battle royale format, and the game’s graphics are the most life-like yet.
When releasing Warzone, Activision changed their model, making it free to download and play, with battle passes available for purchase. Lots of game developers have opted to release their games for free in recent times, offering in-game purchases that enhance the experience for players.
Before 2021 is out, Activision will release Call of Duty: Vanguard, which will be set during World War II and will offer both online and offline formats. Activision hopes that the release of Vanguard will add to the whopping $4.8billion spent in-game on purchases across all of its franchises in 2020. Given the cult-like following of the Call of Duty series, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t.
Evolution Gaming
Launched in 2006, Evolution Gaming has taken the online casino world by storm. They’re the chosen software developer for casino sites’ various live dealer, slots, and table games. In recent years, Evolution has acquired companies including Ezugi, NetEnt, and Red Tiger and is consistently regarded as the go-to gaming company for online casino operators.
Some of Evolution’s most popular online game titles available at many online betting and casino sites like STS Bet include Monopoly, Deal or No Deal Live, Crazy Time, and Gonzo’s Treasure Hunt. Excitingly, Gozo’s Treasure Hunt is the first game to be launched with a virtual reality mode, which is an indication of where the online casino industry is heading in the near future. And with a turnover of $680 million last year, Evolution is the biggest name in the online casino industry. It will almost certainly add to its extensive game catalog in the coming year.
EA Games
Electronic Arts (EA) was founded in 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, and the company is one of the biggest names in online gaming today. Known by many as the producers of the world’s favorite sports game, EA is responsible for titles like FIFA, Madden, NHL, and UFC. More than 31 million players have played FIFA 21 across all platforms, for instance.
But there’s a lot more to Electronic Arts than just sports games. And while various controversies often surround the brand, there’s no doubting the quality of some of their online games. Through EA’s Origin platform, players can enjoy popular titles like Apex Legends and Battlefield online. EA even has a platform called Pogo, which brings together a collection of simple, arcade-style games, which players can sign-up to for $7 per month.
From a financial standpoint, EA declared a net revenue of $5.63billion in their 2021 fiscal year. It seems that the EA brand is impervious to its critics, and if they continue to deliver exceptional online games across a range of genres, their loyal customers will continue to make the most of their titles.
Final thoughts
Thanks to the talent and creativity of the online developers introduced in this post, the immediate future of online gaming looks incredibly exciting. In addition to the latest releases of our favorite online game series, we can also expect to see lots of new and exhilarating titles that bring the very best graphics to our screens and developments in regards to the latest tech like virtual reality.