The Untapped Power of Gaming Advertising, You Can Level Up Your Brand

Once upon a time, gaming was just a hobby, an after school escape or weekend thrill. Today, it’s a global culture, a multibillion dollar industry, and, more importantly for marketers, a highly engaged advertising goldmine

If you think gaming is just for teens in dark rooms, it’s time to press reset. In 2025, gaming is everywhere, from mobile phones and consoles to the metaverse and beyond. It's influencing culture, fashion, tech, and how we interact with brands. And those brands? The smart ones are finding innovative ways to advertise inside games, around games, and through gaming personalities

At VIVHOK, we specialise in cutting edge marketing, think 3D visuals, immersive experiences, and digital storytelling. That’s why we’re obsessed with what’s happening in the gaming space. It’s not just cool, it’s commercially powerful

So, let’s dig into why gaming advertising has become one of the most important frontiers in modern marketing and how your brand can press play on the opportunity

Gaming: A Giant That Keeps Growing

Before we talk advertising, let’s understand the landscape

• 3.3 billion gamers worldwide as of 2025

• $250+ billion global gaming industry (surpassing music and movies combined)

• Average gamer age: 35 years old

• Top platforms: Mobile (52%), Console (28%), PC (20%)

Gaming is no longer niche it’s mainstream, multi generational, and multicultural. Whether it’s a 12 year old playing Fortnite, a 40 year old building worlds in Minecraft, or an executive unwinding with Candy Crush on their commute, everyone is a gamer now

That means your target audience is already playing. The question is: are you advertising where they play?

The Rise of In-Game Advertising (IGA)

In-game advertising isn’t just about pop-ups or banners anymore. Today’s most effective gaming ads are seamless, strategic, and even immersive

Types of Gaming Advertising:

1. Dynamic Ads: Real time, changeable ads within game environments (e.g. digital billboards in a racing game)

2. Static Placements: Pre programmed ads in game maps or settings (e.g. branded clothing or product placements)

3. Playable Ads: Mini demo games that users can play within a mobile ad

4. Sponsorships and Skins: Branded characters, outfits, weapons, or items, players can use

5. Livestream Ads: Integrations during game streams or esports broadcasts

The genius of these ads is that they’re not disruptive, they’re part of the experience. It’s like placing your brand in a film, only it’s a film the user controls

Why Gaming Advertising Works: 7 Big Perks

1. Massive Reach, Niche Targeting

Gaming allows for both scale and specificity. You can reach millions or zoom in on niche communities (e.g. car lovers in Forza Horizon, fashionistas in The Sims).

This is marketing precision, paired with huge visibility

2. High Engagement & Attention

Gamers aren’t just passive viewers they’re active participants. Unlike banner ads or TV commercials, in-game ads appear during high focus moments

That translates to:

• Higher ad recall

• Greater brand lift

• Stronger emotional impact

In fact, Nielsen reports that in-game ads have 23% higher engagement than standard digital ads

3. Seamless Integration

Today’s gamers appreciate authenticity. If your brand shows up in a way that’s natural to the game world, it adds to the experience rather than detracts

Examples:

• Nike sneakers in NBA 2K

• Red Bull energy drinks in FIFA

• Gucci digital fashion in Roblox

This kind of placement enhances the environment while subtly influencing user perception

4. Global, Cross Platform Exposure

With players logging in from every continent, gaming ads go beyond borders. And because games are cross platform PC, mobile, console, you get exposure on multiple devices with consistent messaging. It’s a branding dream!

5. Extended Campaign Lifespan

A social ad might last 24 hours. A billboard? A few weeks. But an in-game skin or branded object?

It can live on in the game for months, even years. Every time a player logs in, your brand is part of their world

6. Monetizable Merchandise & Digital Goods

In the world of skins, loot boxes, and NFT based items, your ad can also become a revenue stream

Imagine designing branded virtual sneakers in a game that fans actually pay to wear. That’s not just advertising, it’s product innovation

7. Viral Potential via Game Culture

Gaming content dominates YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok. If your brand shows up in a cool or funny way, gamers will screenshot it, share it, and meme it

Your in-game placement could become the next viral trend, amplifying your investment exponentially

Gaming Ads That Crushed It

Travis Scott x Fortnite

In 2020, Travis Scott’s virtual concert in Fortnite drew over 12 million live viewers. But what most people forget is the branding: his Nike Jordan gear was front and center

Result? A sold-out merch line and millions in cross-platform exposure

Coca Cola’s Pixel Point in Fortnite

Coca Cola created a branded map in Fortnite Creative where players explored a surreal, Coca Cola themed world

Not only was it visually stunning, but it gamified brand exploration, leading to record breaking engagement on social media

Adidas x FIFA Ultimate Team

In FIFA 22, Adidas launched a special “Adidas NumbersUp” campaign with custom boots and jerseys for in-game avatars

This gave players performance boosts, creating both value and visibility for the brand

The Psychology Behind Gaming Ads

Why do these ads work so well?

Because they play into the core psychological triggers of gaming:

• Achievement: Rewards, trophies, and exclusive items tied to brands

• Immersion: Ads that feel native to the world make the experience richer

• Social Identity: Branded skins let players show off taste, fandom, or loyalty

• Discovery: Players enjoy exploring new things, even ads, when done right

When brands align with these motivations, the result is not just exposure, it’s affinity

Gaming, 3D, and Visual Storytelling is VIVHOK’s Playground

At VIVHOK, we’re all about bold, immersive advertising. That’s why gaming is such a natural space for us

We help brands design:

• 3D product ads inside games

• Custom branded maps or environments

• In-game skins, items, and features

• Gamified ad experiences for mobile and AR

Our focus? Turning your product into part of the game. Literally.

And with holograms, OOH integrations, and interactive experiences, we also take gaming culture offline, turning digital moments into physical world campaigns (and vice versa)

Who Should Use Gaming Advertising?

Gaming isn’t just for tech and energy drink companies. It’s for any brand that wants to connect with younger, connected, experience driven audiences

Consider gaming ads if you’re in:

• Fashion and lifestyle (digital wearables, branded cosmetics)

• Tech and gadgets (playable demos, virtual experiences)

• Food and beverage (in-game energy boosts, virtual vending)

• Music and entertainment (sponsored concerts, crossovers)

• Finance and fintech (teaching tools through simulation)

Even healthcare, education, and nonprofits are using games to tell stories and engage people

Metaverse, Web3, and Playable Commerce

Looking ahead, gaming will only grow. With the rise of the metaverse, AR/VR platforms, and Web3 gaming, we’re entering an era where players can:

• Own branded items as NFTs

• Attend events virtually

• Earn crypto rewards via gameplay

• Shop directly from in-game stores

That means brands will need to be more creative, more immersive, and more interactive than ever before

The winners will be the ones who entertain as they advertise

It's Time to Press Play

Gaming advertising isn’t the future, it’s right now. And the brands that are brave enough to enter the game are seeing huge returns in loyalty, reach, and cultural relevance

If you’re ready to build a campaign that’s fun, immersive, and unforgettable, it might be time to swap your banner ads for a controller

At VIVHOK, we can help your brand play smarter, not just louder

So, are you ready to game?