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Easily one of the hardest gaming niches to crack, sports tend to encompass various complexities far beyond merely developing and publishing successful titles. Getting the official rights to competitions can make or break potential sales, while there’s a growing hunger from players for enhanced realism, which inevitably adds further expense to the production of games.
Nevertheless, impressive headway is being made in Australia, thanks to a thriving industry that is quickly gaining international recognition. Innovating and producing top-quality games has been crucial, as these Aussie developers gradually chip away at the established power base of major AAA game publishers. Indeed, when it comes to sports titles, EA Sports and 2K are usually the biggest names: https://www.si.com/golf/news/we-played-the-two-new-golf-video-games-and-one-is-the-clear-winner
Thankfully, we now have Australia Has Become a Major Player in the Sports Gaming Niche eruption of emerging talents in Australia, who are not only chipping away at such dominance; they’re becoming major players in their own rights. These developers and studios Down Under have also started becoming major players themselves, heralding an intriguing new era in the sports gaming genre.
Australia Has Become a Major Player in the Sports Gaming Niche
Innovation & Unique Gameplay
Australian game developers have focused on creating sports titles with innovative and unique gameplay mechanics. They have looked beyond traditional sports simulations to create games that offer a fresh and engaging experience. By introducing novel gameplay elements, they attract the attention of gamers looking for something different within the sports genre.
Perhaps the best example is Australian game developer Big Ant Studios. The fiercely independent company has taken on some of the major players in sports gaming, including the likes of EA Games and 2K, both of whom are notoriously powerful when it comes to the sports niche. However, this balance of power now appears to be shifting, and that’s welcome news for fans of the sports gaming genre.
After the game was launched this year, AFL 23 received glowing reviews from gamers and critics alike, who praised the high detail of players, teams, stadiums, and the realistic nature of gameplay and movement. Understandably, the Aussie developer Big Ant Studios was justifiably proud of their achievements: https://www.bigant.com/all-game-list/afl-23/
Critics have regularly bemoaned the lack of innovation in sports games, particularly over the last decade, given that in-game monetisation is perceived to have taken precedence over new or exciting features. For their part, Big Ant has received acclaim for the realism of their games, including Cricket 22 and AFL 23.
Collaboration with Sports Organisations
Now that AFL 23 has become one of the biggest hits Down Under this year, securing the official rights and licenses top Aussie Rules competitions has been a key ingredient, contributing to the game’s overall success. These include the Australian Football League, the AFL Women’s, plus a host of state leagues across the country.
As the name would suggest, Tiebreak: Official Game of the ATP and WTA has gained rights from those key tennis organisations, underlining another important collaboration for Big Ant Studios. But many more companies in Australia have also made their mark, including one that has been established since the 1950s, adapting and evolving over the years and now making a huge impression in the digital age.
Aristocrat is the biggest gambling machine producer in Australia, and one of the largest manufacturers of slot machines in the world, also known as pokies in the local vernacular. Their global reach continues to increase, providing the software that drives the most impressive online casino sites, which means they also regularly feature in reviews and guides: https://www.gambleonlineaustralia.com/casino/reviews/
Perhaps most incredibly of all, Aristocrat has beaten top local competition in Las Vegas of all places, and across the United States. This authentic Aussie brand tied up licensing deals with the NFL, going on to launch a range of themed pokies and slots in 2023. This also comes alongside key brand partnerships, including sponsorship with the Las Vegas Raiders, among other teams.
Game Changers?
Making such great strides in the sports genre gaming industry is great news for Australia, where the games production industry is currently thriving and enjoying year-on-year growth. Between 2022 and 2023, companies hired game development talents in record numbers, while the demand for highly skilled people shows no signs of slacking.
