Exploring the Crossover between Music and Online Gaming
Music is a crucial part of daily life and the soundtrack to our very existence. It’s always there when we need it — it can help us party when we’re happy or give us a shoulder to cry on when we’re down. Gaming has evolved over the years to become just as important to our lives as music. This is especially true in the modern era, where gaming has become a massive part of the global entertainment sector. Although standard offline play is core to this, online gaming is something that has really taken off lately.
Hence, it’s no surprise to see that both these giants of modern entertainment have started to cross over in some interesting ways. But just how does this look?
Music is the key to online casino gaming
The global iGaming niche is a core part of modern online play and generates billions in revenue each year. Gamers are diving into innovative online casinos and exploring a variety of exciting titles available to try out.
Music plays a huge role in iGaming, and software providers use it to spark more interest in their games. Online bingo is an excellent case in point, and music-packed bingo titles are easy to find at some of the best iGaming sites around. As shown at AskGamblers, this includes bet365 Casino, PlayFrank Casino, and HeySpin Casino.
The music used in online games covers both soundtracks and the FX developers build into their designs. Virtual casino games would not be as much fun to try without these musical elements, and this is one online gaming/music crossover that stands out as a result.
Music licensing in online video games
In the same way that music plays a significant role in how digital casino games are created, it’s also crossed over into the world of online video games. It’s hard to imagine an exciting video game having no music included to set the tone or push the action along (or give you a hint when the next boss fight starts)!
One way this is done for online games is licensing tracks from popular artists. Developers are now spending cash to include popular songs in their games, making them even more exciting to play. It's a clever move, as many online game creators license hits to amp up their sales and attract fans of the artists and bands featured!
Original soundtracks appear as frequently in online video games as they do in iGaming. This leads game studios to commission custom scores that boost the title’s overall atmosphere.
Gigs and events in online games
Another exciting crossover to explore is the way musical events are making their presence felt in online games! This trend has blossomed over the past few years, and it’s quite optimistic to imagine many more artists hosting their gigs within the rich worlds of online games in the future.
Good examples of this include Fortnite hosting live events from Travis Scott, Marshmello, and Ariana Grande. Roblox also got in on the act and has hosted interactive gigs from people like Lil Nas X.
These kinds of collaborations are good for artists, fans, and game developers. Fans get to hear their favorite music in a new online environment, artists get to reach out to the huge global gaming community, and developers reach a new audience of music fans.
Although these virtual concerts might not quite reach the heights of in-person gigs (like The Black Keys at the Greek Theatre) for some fans, it does offer a unique way to see the biggest stars in action.
Exclusive access and custom gaming playlists
The size of the global online gaming sector in 2024 was estimated to be around $170 billion, which shows what a huge audience this is to tap into for bands. When you also consider how music is a massive sector for online gaming, it’s easy to see why both industries crossover so much now.
One example of this is artists using popular online games or online gaming platforms to release new tracks. This can include Fortnite listening parties, where fans can get exclusive first listens to new material.
Many gamers enjoy listening to music while playing, and this is another area where the gaming and music sectors intersect. Music platforms like Spotify are regularly used to set up curated playlists for gaming online. This often leads gamers to create playlists dedicated to specific online games, such as Valorant or League of Legends.
Merch collabs between artists and online games
We’ve already mentioned how some artists license their music to be used in online games, but this is not the only crossover between them. The most popular musical stars also collaborate directly with the biggest online games for unique merch and in-game purchases.
A good example of this is the 2023 collab between Kid Cudi and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Gamers were able to download special voice lines and unique skins to use in the game. It also included real-world streetwear inspired by the game’s partnership with Kid Cudi. Post Malone did a similar thing in 2023 and worked with online smash Apex Legends on his ‘Three Strikes’ merch event.
It is not just about partnerships that produce real-world apparel or unique in-game purchases, though. Official soundtracks from the biggest online games can be found on musical platforms like Apple Music now. That way, artists are able to reach more people by featuring on a hit game soundtrack.
Music inspired by online gaming
Although most of the crossovers we see right now revolve around music moving into online gaming, some movement in the other direction is also evident. Online games start to influence the kind of music artists are making and what they talk about in lyrics.
The rise of gaming as a hobby worldwide accounts for this, as more bands and artists begin to play games in their spare time and bring this influence into their music. A good example of this is how rappers like Drake or Lil Uzi Vert frequently reference the biggest games in their lyrics.
Music and online games: A match made in heaven
Music and online gaming might not seem to have much in common at first glance. When you start to dig a bit deeper, though, the ways they are linked and cross over in modern society become clear. These bonds are sure to grow stronger as we move ahead and as both sectors begin to move ever closer together.