To find out more about how gaming has changed many peoples lifestyle, I had an interview with Dev S a battle royal player .When i asked him what it meant to him he said “Gaming is my entertainment, but it’s also my identity. It helped me meet friends with similar cultures. The communities understand me—they connect with me. It’s now my way of life.”
His answer shows a shift in culture .For a lot of players gaming is not just a way of passing time it is where they make friends, join communities it also becomes a part of their life and how they express themselves online.
Secondary research supports this. A 2023 study from the American Psychological Association found that people increasingly form self-concepts through digital communities, especially those built around shared interests like gaming. This aligns closely with Dev’s
experience.(https://www.apa.org/topics/social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use )
During my interview i asked Dev what makes the gaming circle so strong he said “The friendships are convincing and encouraging. We share the same jokes, culture, and interests. Playing together becomes part of our daily life. It’s not individual—it’s collective. Being in these communities creates belonging.” This statement shows how gaming communities stick together.
Players return for:
● Running jokes that only the group understands
● Shared gameplay routines
● A culture built on collaboration, humor, and rituals
● A sense of being seen and understood
To dive deep into this a research by Constance A. Steinkuehler , Dmitri Williams shows that gaming communities are like a third place, not home, not work, but a third space where people find identity and belonging. (https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/11/4/885/4617703?login=false )
These items don't just mean an accessory to gamers, they are their emotions and identity. "Collectibles give gamers identity. Owning a few objects makes the experience feel real. A good product is always better than cheap stuff online. Collectibles create emotional bonds. "The research done by the National Library Of Medicine shows nostalgia-driven objects strengthen emotional continuity and belonging. In gaming collectable act as:
● A memory from the past
● Achievement
● Sense of belonging
(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26751632/ )
For gamers like Liam and Dev, owning limited or meaningful items helps them feel connected to stories, communities, and creators.
During the interview Dev stressed upon how gaming has influenced his lifestyle beyond the screen. “Gaming affects my clothing choices and who I subscribe to. It shapes my music taste and my entertainment. Competitive gaming taught me discipline and teamwork. Most of my close friends came from gaming spaces.”
This reflects the life change experienced by Gen Z gaming communities.
Gaming influences:
● Fashion
● Weekly routines
● Favorable creators and influencers.
The gaming culture is no longer an inward-looking culture that was confined to a monitor.
One of the most impactful statements from Dev was: "Gaming spaces have become most of my close friends.” This statement is a very strong reason why communities become families and how talking during the game becomes a hangout , wins mean better relationships and how talking during the long gaming sessions is like a therapy . New research By Tyler Prochnau shows this exact thing.
In many ways, gaming communities replicate the social intimacy once found in neighborhoods or school groups—but in digital, scalable, global formats.
Dev’s interview revealed a clear hierarchy of platforms: "Most of it is on Instagram Reels and TikTok. YouTube Shorts and Discord also have a big role. Influencers show new drops before they get popular. Instagram is the most reliable when I decide to buy.” Industry research shows that creator and influencer recommendations have a strong impact on gamers’ purchasing behavior: approximately 32% of gamers worldwide have made purchases based on a creator’s recommendation, rising to about 40% among dedicated gamers illustrating how social media content directly influences buying decisions in gaming communities.
(https://www.influencer.com/knowledge-hub/the-state-of-influencer-marketing-in-gaming )
During the interview Dev said that “Gaming spaces have become most of my close friends. "This shows how connections and friendships are made in gaming spaces. The research by Mustafa Serif Akin
(“Social gaming: A systematic review” This review finds that digital gaming satisfies social needs and that playing with others can be a core motivation for many gamers, promoting a sense of connection and belonging.) (https://www.sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2155684923000155 )
In many ways, gaming communities replicate the social intimacy once found in neighborhoods or school groups—but in digital, scalable, global formats.
Today’s gamers aren’t defined simply by the games they play—they’re defined by:
1. Their communities
2. Their routines
3. Their aesthetic identity
4. Their collectibles
5. Their creator choices
6. Their online social worlds
As Dev put it, gaming influences how he dresses, the people he knows, what he listens to, and the spaces he feels at home in. It is an ecosystem of meaning. Gaming is no longer “just” entertainment. It is culture, belonging, identity, memory, lifestyle, and community—blended into one world.