How has convergence impacted producers and audiences in the video gaming industry?

Use detailed examples from Animal Crossing: New Horizons to support your response.

Introduction

Convergence has fundamentally reshaped the video gaming industry, altering how games are produced, distributed, and experienced. The blending of technologies, platforms, business models, and social experiences has created new opportunities and challenges for both producers and audiences. Technological, cross-platform, vertical, horizontal, media, business model, and social convergence have all contributed to this shift. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) serves as a key example of how convergence impacts both the production and consumption of modern games, highlighting the broader trends shaping the industry.

Impact on Producers

For producers, convergence has increased the complexity and cost of game development. Technological convergence, in particular, has required developers to create more versatile and interconnected gaming experiences. Games are no longer standalone products but must integrate online multiplayer, social features, and multimedia content. Nintendo’s development of Animal Crossing: New Horizons reflects this shift. While ACNH remains a primarily single-player experience, Nintendo invested heavily in online infrastructure to support multiplayer features such as island visits, content sharing, and seasonal events. This shift required Nintendo to manage server capacity and stability, adding complexity to the development process.

Convergence has also created new revenue opportunities for producers. Business model convergence allows games to generate income through a combination of direct sales, microtransactions, and subscription models. ACNH follows a traditional premium sales model but expands its monetization through the Happy Home Paradise DLC and content tied to Nintendo Switch Online. This reflects a broader trend seen in games like Fortnite and Genshin Impact, where free-to-play models are supported by in-game purchases and seasonal content. The flexibility of these models allows producers to extend a game’s lifecycle and maximize profitability.

Vertical and horizontal integration have strengthened producers’ control over the market. Vertical integration occurs when a company controls multiple stages of production and distribution. Nintendo developed ACNH internally, published it exclusively for the Nintendo Switch, and distributed it through the Nintendo eShop and physical sales. This model allows Nintendo to capture the full value chain, from hardware sales to game purchases and online subscriptions. Similarly, Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda allows it to control the development, distribution, and availability of titles like Starfield, reinforcing its influence in the RPG market. Horizontal integration, on the other hand, allows producers to consolidate market power by acquiring competitors. Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard increased its dominance in the first-person shooter and online multiplayer markets, giving it leverage to influence platform exclusivity and subscription value.

Cross-platform convergence has further expanded market opportunities for producers. Games like Fortnite and Minecraft allow players to engage across PC, consoles, and mobile platforms, increasing audience reach and engagement. While ACNH is limited to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo has enhanced brand visibility through media and franchise crossovers, such as the inclusion of Sanrio and Mario-themed content. This approach mirrors broader industry trends where producers seek to expand a game’s presence across multiple media and platforms to maximize exposure and revenue.

The pressure to provide ongoing content and live-service features has also intensified. Media and social convergence have conditioned players to expect regular updates and community-driven events. ACNH reflects this trend through seasonal updates and in-game events, mirroring the live-service models of games like Fortnite and Destiny 2. However, this strategy increases development pressure, as producers must continuously create new content to maintain player interest and engagement.

Impact on Audiences

For audiences, convergence has created greater accessibility and flexibility in how games are played. Cross-platform convergence has allowed games to be played seamlessly across different devices, with shared progress and cross-play features. While ACNH remains platform-exclusive, other games like Fortnite and Minecraft enable players to switch between platforms without losing progress. This shift has increased convenience and allowed players to engage with games more consistently across different contexts.

Social convergence has transformed games into social spaces where players engage not just with the game but also with each other. ACNH became a social lifeline during the COVID-19 pandemic, as players hosted virtual weddings, birthday parties, and political rallies on their islands. The game’s multiplayer features allowed friends to visit each other’s islands, exchange items, and participate in seasonal events. This reflects a broader trend seen in games like Roblox and Second Life, where the social dimension of gameplay becomes as important as the game mechanics themselves.

Creative participation has also increased due to media convergence. ACNH’s custom design tool allows players to create and share patterns, clothes, and island layouts, encouraging personal expression and community interaction. This trend is mirrored in games like Minecraft and Dreams, where user-generated content forms a key part of the player experience. The rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube has further expanded creative engagement, as players share their experiences and creations with global audiences.

However, convergence has also created new economic pressures and market fragmentation for audiences. Horizontal integration has resulted in platform-exclusive content, forcing players to invest in specific hardware to access certain games. Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, for example, led to concerns about Xbox and PC exclusivity for titles like Starfield and The Elder Scrolls VI. Similarly, ACNH’s exclusivity to the Nintendo Switch means that players must own the console to access the game. This reflects a growing trend where platform-based ecosystems create barriers to entry and limit player choice.

Business model convergence has also introduced new economic incentives within games. While ACNH follows a traditional sales model, the introduction of the Happy Home Paradise DLC and exclusive content linked to Nintendo Switch Online reflects the growing influence of premium add-ons and subscription-based services. This trend is more pronounced in games like Fortnite and Call of Duty, where microtransactions and cosmetic purchases have become major revenue streams. For players, this creates a status-based economy where investment in premium content can enhance social standing and in-game identity.

Conclusion

Convergence has reshaped the video gaming industry, creating both opportunities and challenges for producers and audiences. For producers, the increasing complexity of development, the rise of live-service models, and the influence of vertical and horizontal integration have altered production and monetization strategies. For audiences, greater accessibility, enhanced social engagement, and creative participation have transformed how games are experienced. However, platform exclusivity, economic pressures, and market fragmentation present new challenges. Animal Crossing: New Horizons illustrates how convergence has influenced modern game design and player engagement, blending traditional gameplay with social, creative, and monetization features to meet the evolving demands of the gaming landscape.

Look carefully at this essay:

1st: Use the mark scheme to grade the essay.

2nd: Copy and paste it into word.

i) Take out anything that you feel you can lose while still keeping the integrity of the essay.

ii) Add in anything that you feel would enhance the essay.

3rd: Use chatgpt to work on enhancing the essay so that it scores higher on the mark scheme.