The gaming industry has grown phenomenally in the last decade. Popular gaming brands like Gameloft, Ubisoft, Tencent, EA, etc. have created generations of games for their patrons. But Nintendo held the top position as the most popular gaming brand. This changed in recent times when Epic Games usurped it. Epic Games has had a long journey in the industry. But the key to their huge demand lies in the launch of their game Fortnite and the gaming engine Unreal. This success is neither a coincidence nor the result of a pandemic-driven behavioral change. The reason behind this success is the use of social insights in business strategies.
How Social Insights Helped Epic Games Gain New Business?
Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, believed that virtual reality was the next big thing. This idea led to Epic Games initiating research that used insights from consumers and social media. These insights were used to reach the conclusion that people are looking for innovative, immersive experiences when gaming. And that led to the launch of Fortnite, a game that got listed at the top within a few days of its launch.
Popular games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Dota, and Fifa have always targeted hardcore gamers. But Fortnite is a class apart. As a free game, it appeals to gaming enthusiasts. What sets it apart is its inbuilt social platform. It caters to the needs of casual gamers and others interested in human connection.
Fortnite’s Strong Social Connect
Fortnite may not be your regular social media platform. Yet it amassed more than 350 million users by May 2020. A big section of this user base is young gamers who love how Fortnite punches a variety of features on a single platform. From hanging out with friends to watching events and videos, youngsters spend nearly one-fourth of their free time on Fortnite.
What made this possible was:
- The incorporation of insights from various social platforms about user requirements, likes, preferences, and more.
- Epic Games realized the gaming industry could grow if it didn’t restrict itself to hardcore game lovers.
In line with this understanding, Epic Games collaborated with Marvel as well as Ghostbusters to incorporate popular pop culture into their gaming world. This allowed users to better connect with what they like and turned Epic Games into a favorite overnight.
Proper research and consumer insights play a crucial role in any marketing strategy. The right use of it allows marketers and businesses to form a strong bond with their customers. Social insights obtained from various media platforms can tell you more about what users feel about your brand or your competitors. It also gives you an idea of what changes or new features they are looking for in a product or service.
Businesses can tap into this knowledge to create products/services that cater to the demands of the customers. This is the best way to evolve and expand your business to make sure that you are still relevant to your target audience. Social insights also help build business plans aimed for the future. Astounding success stories like that of Epic Games make it clear that businesses should pay more attention to insights from various social media platforms to give their audience what they desire most.