It seems crazy to think that people living a century or two ago only had books and plays to keep them entertained. And even then, they weren’t accessible to everyone. Now, people in every corner of society can consume all sorts of amazing forms of entertainment, from films to iGaming.
What’s becoming obvious now is that the lines between these new forms of entertainment are blurring. People of today want to have different ways to enjoy the same content, which is why modern franchises span numerous platforms.
Entertainment Platforms are Focusing on Diversification
The diversification on offer in the entertainment industry highlights how there are so many different people looking for diverse forms of leisure. This is evident in the online casino industry, where there are numerous variants of each game available.
The blackjack at Paddy Power, for example, spans way beyond the classic version of the game and now comes with myriad variants. These include titles like Ruby Blackjack X and Majority Rules Speed Blackjack. Developers have diversified because they know that different demographics are looking for different things in their gaming experience.
This is an example of how even people who enjoy blackjack may not want to play the original version of the game. This trend can be seen elsewhere as well. For example, fans of Western themes may enjoy them as slot games, but they may not want to watch full length feature films in the genre. Franchise developers need to understand this and ensure that their content appears in as many places as possible to appeal to these diverse demographics.
Cross-Platform Content Has Grown Massively Over Last Decade
Entertainment is no longer occupying distinct categories, and this has become more apparent in the streaming era. In the past, television shows were watched on television and films were viewed in the cinema – this isn’t necessarily the case anymore. Netflix altered that model and brought about a whole new landscape where content can flow freely across platforms.
Nowadays, a story could exist as a film, television series, an iGaming title, and a social media experience. The Walking Dead universe is a good example of this, with the post-apocalyptic show covering various television series, games, and mobile apps. This allows people to interact with the content any way they please, and they don’t have to consume all the offerings to get a sense of the themes.
Content that spans various platforms at the same time could be the next step for the entertainment industry. This has already been seen with offerings such as Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which blended elements of television and gaming. If virtual reality becomes mainstream, it would be another platform that entertainment franchises would have to cover.
With so many different platforms to choose from, different people are going to have a diverse range of preferences as to how they consume their entertainment content. Therefore, franchises need to ensure they have all the bases covered. Cross-platform entertainment is here to stay, and it’s set to get bigger and better as new technology emerges.
David Prior
David Prior is the editor of Today News, responsible for the overall editorial strategy. He is an NCTJ-qualified journalist with over 20 years’ experience, and is also editor of the award-winning hyperlocal news title Altrincham Today. His LinkedIn profile is here.
