The cordial relationship between the auto industry and the gaming industry has existed for a long time—and keeps getting stronger by the day. More and more cars are getting featured in video games, and automakers are increasingly advertising on video games.
According to statistics, the U.S. video game industry was valued at $85.86 billion in 2021. This figure is expected to increase even further this year. And as the world prepares to adopt autonomous vehicles (which are inspired by video games) let’s look at 4 ways video games have positively impacted the auto industry.
1. Augmented Reality Repairs
Car designers no longer need to build clay models to see how a car will look like when complete. Modern technology has made the design process faster and better. Automakers now use Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)—popular gaming technologies—to make the process seamless and more accurate.
AR and VR applications go beyond car designing. Giant car brands like Audi and BMW also use AR and VR technologies for accurate and fast car diagnosis. These technologies will soon become mainstream and be used by all major auto brands.
2. Brand Awareness
Some cars come to mind when you talk of racing video games—Chevrolet Camaro, Subaru Impreza, Ford Mustang, and Toyota Supra. These real cars have become popular in the gaming world due to partnerships between video gaming companies and car brands. Auto companies like Chevrolet and Ford spend more money to have their vehicles featured in specific video games, and the results are impressive.
Featuring a car in a video game boosts brand visibility and overall sales. Test driving a car in a video game stimulates a gamer’s desire to buy the same car and try out its features in real life. And you don’t have to be a skilled gamer to test a car or learn about its features in a video game.
A gamer may shop for a Toyota Corolla for sale after seeing the car in a video game. They may download and install a VR app on their smartphone to explore the car’s features. They may also test drive the vehicle virtually before making a buying decision.
3. VR Car Shopping
Making major purchases online—like buying a car—was once unimaginable. Many people still prefer to visit a showroom physically to buy a car. But there’s also been a major shift in consumer behavior over the years, and more people are buying cars online, thanks to advancements in technology.
One survey revealed that 59% of consumers prefer to shop online. This includes car buyers. VR technology allows car buyers to tour a virtual showroom from anywhere using their smartphones or computers. They simply install a VR app on their mobile device and explore different car features.
4. Driving Gamification
The fun in car racing is no longer about speed. Game developers are shifting the focus to responsible driving and eco-friendly practices. A few years ago, Nissan introduced the Carwings app that allows Nissan Leaf EV drivers to compete based on driving efficiency and not speed.
The key metrics that determine the winner include energy consumption, miles covered per kWh, energy generated, and the car’s battery performance. Driving gamification has played a key role in introducing video gaming to people of diverse age groups.
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