Gaming in Canada: Past, Present and Future
Canadians love gaming, especially digital video gaming, which is expected to take over physical sales revenue-wise and reach $4.4 billion per year in 2027, according to consumer and market data company Statista. As you may or may not expect, mobile gaming is immensely popular and is the top-grossing segment of the market.
Canada is also home to a major video game industry. In 2021, 937 video gaming companies were operating in Canada. Four out of five were operating in Quebec, Ontario, or British Columbia. Below is a look at the most popular gaming niches in Canada, the growth of gaming in the country in 2024, the future of gaming in Canada, and some of the games that will be popular in 2025.
The Most Popular Gaming Niches in Canada
In October 2024, Statista reported on its website that action games — e.g. games that feature fighting, or platform games — were Canadians’ preferred genre when it came to gaming niches. Casual games were also immensely popular.
Online games have been growing in popularity. One of the big reasons is that gamers can play on the go and cure their boredom. They also enjoy competing against each other, which is driving the popularity of online games as well.
The online casino world is another niche enjoying a wave of popularity in Canada. Igaming has been something of a grey area in Canada and the federal government has left lots of gambling regulation in the hands of provincial governments. Some, such as Ontario, are warm to iGaming and allow gaming at online casinos licensed by the provincial government. Anyone looking for an instant withdrawal casino in Canada can check out those with the best feedback from Daisy Harrison, a renowned name in the industry with over 9 years’ experience. This way, they can play without fear of any repercussions if the casino they’re gaming at is regulated by the provincial government.
The Growth of Gaming in Canada
Gaming has really evolved in Canada, especially thanks to Ontario’s decision to have its own regulated igaming market. Wagers are increasing and casino gaming is dominating the Ontario market.
Online casino gaming isn’t just popular in Ontario, however, but also wider Canada, in the provinces that allow it. The convenience and accessibility of online casinos has been a major growth driver. There’s also the regulation of gaming, which has made it safer for players, who now have someone they can go to if they have a dispute with a service provider (if the provider themselves is licensed by the Canadian provincial authority, of course).
Mobile gaming has also helped to catapult the growth of gaming in Canada. Now, players can game wherever they want and whenever they want, if they have internet access for the gaming. Accessibility is a further major factor since mobile games are simple in their design and gameplay and are specially tailored to play on mobile devices.
The Future of Gaming in Canada in 2025
The year ahead looks to be an exciting one for gaming in the country. Watch out for esports to grow even bigger in the New Year. The Canadian esports scene is gradually finding its feet and already has tournaments such as the Dreamhack Montreal and Northern Arena.
Mobile gaming will also grow even bigger, now that it’s gained a firm foothold in the Canadian gaming industry. The niche will generate even more revenue. Advances in mobile technology, especially 5G, are also likely to increase the firmness of the mobile gaming foothold. The legalization of casino gaming in several Canadian provinces will continue to fuel the growth of mobile gaming, too, as people turn to apps for their casino gaming.
Independent game development is strong in Canada just now and is likely to grow stronger and witness a variety of trends. These will include developers making more of the opportunities cross-platforming and cloud gaming present to engage with players on a larger scale. As virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) become cheaper, independent game developers will begin to embrace these technologies and incorporate them more into games in 2025.
Games to Watch Out for in 2025
Canadians can anticipate some fantastic releases in 2025 as gaming goes from strength to strength.
Donkey Kong Returns HD
In January 2025, Canada can look forward to a remastered HD version of this 2D platform classic. The players must help Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong retrieve their bananas from the evil Tiki Taki tribe.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
In February 2025, fans can get their teeth into the release of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” which is set in feudal Japan. It’s a game fans are going to relish. They’ve been clamoring for this setting since the beginning of the series in 2007.
Canadian citizens have shown a clear appetite for gaming, whether video gaming or igaming, and the scene looks set to grow even stronger in 2025. There are some big releases on the horizon that will reinforce the love of gaming even further, as will advances in technology.