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Cloud Gaming Positioned for Strong Future Growth According to New Research From Clarivate

Published

6 years ago

October 20, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

More than four in five gamers who do not currently play cloud games say they will start cloud gaming in the next twelve months

Clarivate Plc , a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation, today released a new market report on intellectual property and innovations for gaming businesses, supported by research on gaming trends in the U.K. and U.S. In its new report ‘Cowboys, combat and candy: cloud gaming through the lens of IP’ on levels of innovation and brand creation in the $146 billion gaming industry[1] as evidenced by patent, trademark and domain name activity, Clarivate explores the drivers of change both in terms of technical transformation and also the companies behind it.

“In a world that now sees video gaming as its favorite, or at least most lucrative, pastime, cloud gaming represents a huge leap forward,” said Jeff Roy, President, IP, Clarivate. “By using the behind-the-scenes power of patent, trademark and domain name data to see trends before they hit the market, we have the ability to imagine how this multi-billion-dollar creative industry will shift. Looking at the trends around intellectual property on the business side, we can see that cloud gaming is poised for huge growth over the next 12 months.”

The report looks at the dynamics and direction of the global online and cloud gaming market, analyzing the new commercial models in the gaming industry, how and where gamers are spending money and the potential growth of the industry over the next years.

Strong future growth

The research indicates that cloud gaming is set for significant growth. Most cloud gamers surveyed say they will play a lot (48 percent) or a bit more (28 percent) cloud games in the next year. As many as 81 percent of gamers who do not currently play cloud games believe they will start cloud gaming in the next year.

In the U.S., the number of cloud gamers surveyed who think they will play a lot more is 58 percent compared to 24 percent of U.K. cloud gamers, which hints at differences in maturity between these markets. Almost 20 percent more respondents in the U.S. (37 percent) are cloud gamers than in the U.K. (18 percent).

How much are gamers spending?

As gaming businesses evolve and player experiences continue to rapidly shift – we see revenue being increasingly generated from in-game purchases, advertising and monthly subscription fees. The report from Clarivate finds that the gaming industry is innovating to respond to the users’ demands, focusing over a third of their patent activity on commercial revenue model technology – in-game payments, advertising and microtransactions.

According to the research, cloud gamers spend more on in-game purchases per week than non-cloud gamers, with 93 percent of cloud gamers making in-game payments compared to 75 percent of non-cloud gamers. 21 percent of cloud gamers spend between £21- £50 per week compared to only nine percent of non-cloud gamers. More than half (52 percent) of all cloud gamers prefer paid gaming through a subscription model.

The influence of social media on gamer spend

As millions of gamers from across the globe come together on different platforms to engage – social media has an increasing impact on player buying activity. The research found that gaming spend is closely correlated to social media. Compelling insights include:

One in two (51 percent) of cloud gamers are greatly influenced by social media when it comes to gaming purchases (compared to 17 percent of non-cloud gamers).
21 percent often make purchases via social media (compared to just three percent of non-cloud gamers).
U.S. gamers are much more likely to be greatly influenced by social media when it comes to gaming purchases (41 percent compared to 11 percent).
One in three males (33 percent) are much more likely to be greatly influenced by social media when deciding to make an in-app purchase than females (17 percent).

Developer and platform advancements

The report, ‘Cowboys, combat and candy: cloud gaming through the lens of IP’, found that improving the user experience through innovations in cloud infrastructure has seen the most patent activity. On average, we recognized 300 to 500 inventions annually year-on-year over the past decade. The report uses data and insights from Derwent Innovation, Derwent World Patents Index, and MarkMonitor, to gather insights and analyze trends around patents, trademarks and domain registrations in the gaming industry.

Jeff Roy, President, IP Group, Clarivate, added, “The future of cloud gaming is tremendously exciting. Clarivate has the unique opportunity to help customers throughout the innovation lifecycle from idea creation to commercialization. With cloud gaming poised for huge growth over the next 12 months it’s an incredibly exciting time to be a gamer – not just for us here at Clarivate, but for all passionate and ambitious cloud gaming enthusiasts across the world.”

eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.