Game on: are video games the future of passenger entertainment?

The video games industry is massive, and the appeal of interactive entertainment now spans a wider demographic than ever before. What are the pros and pratfalls of merging this exciting medium with the aviation sector? With ancillary revenues becoming more important, airports and airlines are facing pressure to boost their engagement with passengers in increasingly innovative ways. In this respect, video games could present an enticing opportunity for the aviation sector. According to research by analysts Newzoo, the video games industry as a whole was worth $135bn in 2018 – a growth of 10.9% from 2017 – while the Entertainment Software Association relays that at least 75% of Americans have at least one gamer in their household. Airports such as Singapore Changi and Paris-Charles de Gaulle have introduced dedicated gaming spaces featuring retro games and gaming merchandise. Last year, Texas’s Dallas Fort Worth (DFW), the second largest airport in US, reportedly became the first aviation hub in the country to offer a premium gaming lounge. Meanwhile, airlines are increasingly including games in some form as part of their in-flight entertainment (IFE) offering, with Emirates providing more than 100 to sift through on its long-haul flights.