Everyone knows that the gaming world is a huge success. Just look around you and you'll see someone playing or consuming content related to the universe.
Whether it's on a cell phone, computer or even watching it on television via a streaming games platform, the gaming world is here to stay and has won over thousands of people all over the world.
But perhaps what you don't know, like many Brazilians, is that this universe goes far beyond entertainment. The gamer market is a major power that drives our global economy, and that's what we're going to talk about today.
Gaming market overview and investment opportunities
The gaming universe has gone beyond entertainment and become an economic powerhouse globally and in Brazil. Recent estimates point to market growth and strong digital game consumption in Brazil, while new ways of earning emerged through streaming and the creator economy. In addition, NFTs in games gained space by allowing digital items to have authenticity and be traded. Even so, “play-to-earn” models depend on game rules, market liquidity, and token prices, which calls for caution before investing.
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Understand how the global market evolved and what projections indicate;
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See how streaming and creators became a new profession;
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Identify Brazil’s weight in game consumption and viewing;
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Learn what NFTs are and how they fit into games;
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Assess how NFT monetization works and why caution matters.
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What you will see in today’s content
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The latest numbers for the global games market and projections through 2028;
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How streaming and the creator economy became work and intensified platform competition;
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Brazil’s role in digital game consumption and streaming;
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Why the gaming universe attracts investors, even with low initial capital;
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What an NFT is and how it proves authenticity and ownership of digital items;
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How NFTs commonly show up in games (collectibles, skins, and passes);
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How to earn from NFT items and the role of selling to collectors;
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What to consider in “play-to-earn” and why it isn’t guaranteed income (with examples).
Happy reading!
The gamer market and its impact on the economy
To keep this post truly up to date, use the latest consolidated figures. In its June 2025 update, Newzoo estimated the global games market closed 2024 at $182.7B. In the 2025 report, Newzoo forecasts $189B in 2025, with steady growth toward $206.5B by 2028, reflecting a more mature market.
But don't worry, it doesn't stop there! As well as boosting the economy, the gamer world has opened up new opportunities in the job market, such as the profession of game streamer.
If broadcasting and commenting on online games used to seem like just a fun time, today streamers have become a new profession that is gaining more and more followers.
The creator economy is still booming, but platform competition has intensified. In the Q3 2025 Live-Streaming Trends Report, Stream Hatchet reports 9.6B hours watched in the quarter (across platforms) and highlights shifting audience behavior — including fast-growing competitors and Twitch dipping below 50% market share.
With so many positive forecasts, let's talk about our country? We're one of the biggest consumers of online games in Latin America and there's no denying that.
According to the most recent data released by PGB itself, 82.8% of Brazilians regularly play digital games, as highlighted by PGB Data Insights.
When it comes to streaming, Brazil also reaches the top. In 2024, Gaules was reported as the most-watched streamer in the world in Q1, according to a CNN Brazil article citing Stream Charts data. And for 2023, he finished as the 2nd most-watched streamer on Twitch worldwide, as reported by ge.
You can already see that all this is worth millions, can't you? In fact, what started out as a game now drives the Brazilian and world economy, as well as generating many new job opportunities.
But if the gaming world is such a powerhouse, why not take the opportunity to invest in it? You can surf the gamer wave and make money both by investing in the medium and by playing or streaming, and that's what we're going to talk about in the next topic.
The gamer universe: why invest?
Okay, you've already understood that, in Brazil, the games market is the big sensation of the moment. But why should you invest in it? As a booming market, the gaming universe is easily accessible and allows you to invest in the sector, regardless of where you are.
What's more, you don't need to invest large sums to start making a profit from games - you can even earn from playing them. Not to mention that games bring great long-term financial returns, due to their super appreciation potential, and can also include you in the Brazilian and international financial markets.
Now that you have more than one reason to invest, let's get to the point, shall we? If you still don't know about NFT games, it's time to get up to speed, as this could be a way of making a profit from playing them. Read on and find out how to invest in the gamer market with games.
See also:
Image: A visual icon of the gaming universe, the core topic of this post about the economy and investing.
What is NFT?
An NFT is a token that can represent ownership/record of a digital item on a blockchain. A key technical milestone was ERC-721 (Non-Fungible Token Standard), proposed in 2018, which standardized how these assets work. In games, this idea often shows up in collectibles, skins, or passes backed by an authenticity record.
The acronym for non-fungible token is a kind of digital identity, you know? In other words, the NFT proves the authenticity of an item. Shall we take a practical example from the world of works of art?
Imagine the Mona Lisa painting, it's unique in the world, impossible to replace and it's kept under lock and key in the Louvre museum. Even though there are several copies scattered around, in the end we only have one real Monalisa.
In the digital world, to prove the authenticity of an item, there is the NFT. But how does this fit into games? When you're playing games, there are unique, exclusive items that can't be reproduced and are extremely valuable to the gaming world.
In other words, no more finding copies of them around! If, before, the user only had a replica of an item that everyone else had, today, the gamer will have a collectible item. But the best thing is that, despite being authenticated, the item can be transferred without any problems, and that's where gamers profit.
How to invest in NFT?
When you win exclusive NFT items, you can sell them to collectors and make real money from it. It sounds like a joke, doesn't it? But those who love this universe can pay a lot of money to virtually own an exclusive item from their favorite game.
If, on the one hand, the number of consumers looking for collectibles is growing, on the other, the market for selling NFT items is also expanding. There are those who make a good living from this type of business.
In fact, there are millions of players who are looking for paid traffic and investing in an off-platform digital marketing strategy to promote their desired items. With a single authenticated item, you can make a lot of money.
In “play-to-earn” games, earnings can exist via tokens, but outcomes depend on game rules, market liquidity, and the asset’s price — it’s not guaranteed income. Before putting money in, it’s smart to understand the risks around cryptoassets and offers, as highlighted by CVM on cryptoassets and the market.
An example of this model is Bomb Crypto, one of the most famous games. Before you can make a profit in this game, you have to invest in buying avatars. If you've played Bomberman, you'll certainly have no trouble with Bomb Crypto, which is inspired by the great classic.
The rarer your character and the further you go in the game, the greater your chances of a return. After completing the missions, players who do well can turn the game's currency into cash.
Axie Infinity became one of the best-known play-to-earn cases, but it also shows why web3 gaming requires caution. In 2022, the Ronin network (part of the ecosystem) suffered a major breach, detailed in the Ronin Security Breach Postmortem.
So, are you interested in NFT games or the gamer universe? If you liked our content and want to start investing in one of the biggest markets in the country, just find your style of play, the best platform and play the game.
But before you start playing, don't forget to check out our latest post. Learn more about new technologies, new digital services and changing consumer behavior. Visit the post New normal: how to respond to the advance in digital services.
Frequently asked questions about the gaming market, streaming, and NFTs
Does the gaming market really impact the economy?
Yes, the gaming market is presented as a powerhouse that moves the global economy and also has effects in Brazil. The text highlights recent consolidated figures to show the sector’s scale and reinforces that gaming goes beyond entertainment. Beyond consumption and revenue, it links growth to new opportunities, such as professions connected to game broadcasting and the market for digital items. The central message is that, with a more mature market and forecasts of continued growth, the gaming ecosystem became economically relevant and opened space for different ways of working and earning.
What are the most recent global games market figures mentioned?
The text cites an estimate that the global games market closed 2024 at US$ 182.7 billion. It also mentions a projection of reaching US$ 189 billion in 2025 and continuing to grow gradually to US$ 206.5 billion in 2028. The framing is of a market moving toward maturity, with growth expected over the coming years. These figures are used to support the idea that the sector operates at large scale, moves high values, and therefore draws attention from people following digital consumption trends and opportunities connected to the gaming universe.
How does streaming relate to the growth of the gaming universe?
Streaming appears as a clear example of how gaming expanded beyond just playing. The text says that broadcasting and commenting on games online stopped being only for fun and became a new profession, with more and more people joining the activity. It also notes that the creator economy remains strong and that competition between platforms has intensified, alongside changing habits and fast-growing competitors. In this view, streaming is part of the ecosystem that expands audiences, creates careers, and moves economic activity around games.
Why is Brazil highlighted in game consumption and viewership?
The content states that Brazil is one of the largest consumers of online games in Latin America. As evidence, it cites that 82.8% of Brazilians have the habit of consuming digital games. In the streaming cut, Brazil is also described as prominent, with a mention of a Brazilian streamer’s viewership performance in global rankings. The point is to show that, beyond the global market’s size, there is a significant local audience, which helps explain why brands, creators, and monetization models tied to gaming gain strength in the country.
Why does the text suggest it may be worth investing in the gaming universe?
Because it describes the market as expanding and relatively accessible, making it possible to invest in the sector regardless of where someone is. It also says that to start profiting from games, large amounts are not required, since it’s possible to earn even by playing, and it mentions potential long-term financial return due to valuation potential. In addition, it suggests this type of investment can connect someone to Brazilian and international financial markets. The content’s intent is to present the gaming universe as a “wave” that can be leveraged.
What is an NFT, according to the content?
An NFT is described as a type of token that represents ownership or a record of a digital item on a blockchain. The text explains that the acronym stands for non-fungible token and compares it to a digital identity that proves authenticity. To make the idea concrete, it uses an analogy with a unique artwork, highlighting that even if copies exist, there is one recognized “original.” In the digital environment, the NFT is presented as the mechanism that records and proves the item’s authenticity and ownership.
How do NFTs typically appear in games?
In games, the text says the idea usually shows up in collectible items, skins, or passes with “proof” of authenticity. The logic presented is that certain items can be unique and exclusive, rather than reproduced like a common item. That would change the player’s experience: instead of having only a replica identical to everyone else’s, the player has an authenticated collectible. Another highlighted point is that, even though it is authenticated, the item can be transferred, which creates room for trades between players and interested buyers.
How can someone profit from NFTs in games, as explained?
The text says that by obtaining exclusive NFT items, a person can sell them to collectors and earn real money. The reasoning is that for people who love this universe, it can make sense to pay a lot for an exclusive item from a favorite game, even if it is virtual. It also states that the NFT item sales market expands as the number of consumers looking for collectible articles increases, and it mentions that some people earn well doing this kind of business. Monetization is therefore linked to scarcity, exclusivity, and resale.
Is “play-to-earn” guaranteed income?
No. The text is explicit that in “play-to-earn” games there may be token-based compensation, but it depends on the game’s rules, market liquidity, and the asset’s price. The central point is that income is not guaranteed because returns are conditioned by factors beyond the player, such as the game’s economic model and the token’s market value. That is why the content recommends understanding risks and care points related to cryptoassets and offers before putting money in, reinforcing that caution is essential.
Which game examples are mentioned and what do they illustrate?
The text mentions Bomb Crypto as a well-known example, explaining that before profiting, it would be necessary to invest in buying avatars, and that character rarity and progress in the game would increase return possibilities. It also mentions Axie Infinity as one of the best-known play-to-earn cases, but uses it to underline caution: it recalls a significant breach involving the Ronin network linked to the ecosystem. Together, the examples illustrate both the monetization appeal and the need to pay attention to risks and market conditions.
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