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The gaming industry is booming. Since the start of global lockdowns, gaming has proven to be an incredibly fun way to fill the time at home. For those practising social distancing, online gaming has provided a valuable, entertaining way to stay connected with friends and socialise in a virtual environment. In fact, on a global scale,   the average time spent gaming  increased by 39%  during the pandemic. By 2023, the industry’s value is on track to exceed  $200 billion  – almost as much as the global music and film industries combined. So, which games dominated the landscape in 2021? These are the top five most popular games this year, based on peak concurrent players.   Dota 2 Born out of a community-made mod of Warcraft 3, Dota was the first to popularise the multiplayer online battle area (MOBA) genre in as early as 2003. Its official sequel, Dota 2, was released in 2013 and, in November 2021, boasted  747 506 peak players . It also enjoyed its bigg...

Upgrading your gaming setup up to keep up with the latest games isn’t easy. Next-gen games are improving rapidly as the global gaming community continues to grow, but at the same time, we are seeing legacy hardware becoming outdated faster than ever. And while it may seem like a never-ending battle to empty your pockets on costly upgrades every couple of years, this time of the year also presents significant cost-savings for hardware-hungry gamers. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are anticipated global sales events, and they're the perfect opportunity for gamers to get their hands on cutting-edge tech – at ridiculously low prices. But before you go swiping on an overclocked, water-cooled, power-hungry monster of a gaming rig, ask yourself this: does your gaming display do your setup any justice? Gaming on a high-performing PC without a good display to match is like going to an art gallery with a blindfold. The latest games are approaching life-like graphics and to truly appreciate ev...

The best TV for next-generation gaming   With more people spending time at home over the last 18 months, interest in gaming has increased. Across the globe, the average time spent gaming has increased by 39% during the pandemic, and Twitch viewership also grew by more than 50% from the first quarter of 2020 to the second. In South Africa, the video game market is estimated to reach R5.44 billion by 2023.   But gaming has become more than a fun way to pass the time during lockdown. For many people socially distancing at home, gaming has become a valuable lifeline that has kept them both entertained and connected with friends and family. In fact, 68% of South African gamers said that gaming provided stress and anxiety relief.    As more of us either discover or delve deeper into the exciting world of gaming, there’s a lot to learn about the latest generation of innovative gaming tech entering the market and how it can help elevate experiences. Gaming TVs are an example...

  What it takes to become a pro gamer   For gamers, joining a professional team or becoming a Twitch streamer is like becoming a rockstar of the gaming industry. It may be a long way to the top, but it can be well worth it for those with the right skills and dedication to turning their dreams into a reality. The global gaming industry was valued at a staggering  $162.32 billion in 2020  and has been growing even more rapidly since the pandemic. Twitch streaming in South Africa is also on the rise, but there is still gap in the market for up-and-coming gamers to make their claim to fame. Have you ever thought of giving it a shot? Here’s some of what it takes to become a professional in the world of gaming.   Practise makes perfect Playing video games all day may seem like a dream job, but it can be a lot tougher than it sounds. One professional League of Legends team, the world’s most popular competitive video game, practises for a minimum of  50 hours a wee...

With social distancing keeping us within the confines of our homes, video games have quickly become the go-to distraction for many looking to alleviate their lockdown boredom. It therefore comes as no surprise that while the pandemic had a devastating impact on many industries, the world of gaming has been booming. Along with this unprecedented industry growth, another trend is emerging: more gamers are shifting from using monitors to gaming TVs. With the gaming market  estimated to be worth about four times  box office revenues at $159 billion in 2020, it’s clear that video gaming has become a legitimate competitor to movies. And the TV industry has taken note of this by bringing more features that gamers want to their new displays. In the past, monitors were a first choice for gamers as they used to have lower input lag, higher refresh rates, and faster response times than ordinary TVs. Considering the fast-paced, split-second decision making that many games require, a laggi...

What to consider when looking for a perfect gaming monitor   “Graphics and sound don’t matter to me,” said no gamer ever. When it comes to gaming, the monitor you choose plays a big part in how much you enjoy a game, as well as your ability to navigate virtual worlds. From immersive image quality to the ability to customise monitor settings to complement your game mode, the latest screens are literally game-changing. Isn’t it time that you invested in a new one?   Let’s take a look at some of the factors you should consider before buying a gaming monitor.   Four things to look out for in a gaming monitor   A great pixel response and refresh rate A fast pixel response rate paired with a faster-than-ever response rate means that lagging and frame loss will be a thing of the past. When it comes to LG’s UltraWide Monitor, NVIDIA G-SYNC technology eliminates lags, buffering and stuttering while gaming online. When paired with a 120Hz refresh rate, you’re guaranteed a smoo...