The holidays are all about togetherness and having fun with your friends and family. For that to happen, you need an activity that brings you together and there’s no better way to spend your time than playing games. Fortunately, there are lots of games you can play for entertainment, whether you like playing Maple Casino games or exciting Xbox games. Here are great Xbox games you can play with friends online for some light fun.
- Sony Interactive entertainment
If you love playing games, there is a huge chance you’ve come across several titles created by Sony. The Tokyo-based console kingpin is in charge of video game development and publishing, having unveiled lots of impressive titles through their console, the PlayStation line.
Millions of players swear by Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Playstation 4, which have sold over 10 million units each in the last 11 months. Sony also takes pride in having great PlayStation exclusive games, including bestsellers like Final Fantasy series, Gran Turismo, Uncharted, Spider-Man, and The Last of Us.
In the 2020/2021 financial year, this gaming company recorded over $25 billion through their gaming and network services, earning a huge profit margin.
- Nintendo
Another Japan-based video game company, Nintendo has a long history in the video gaming market. The company came to life in 1889, creating other home entertainment products like the exciting hanafuda playing cards before Gen-Xers and Yers started enjoying Nintendo games and consoles.
Nintendo debuted in the video gaming market in 1981 when they released in 1981, followed by their popular Nintendo Entertainment System in 193. In 1985, the company later unveiled the Super Mario Bros and in this brief period (four years), the company had set itself as a dominant video game and console developer globally.
Some of the greatest titles that this Kyoto-based company has developed include the Super Mario Bros, Kirby, Pokemon, Metroid, and The Legend of Zelda. The company recorded net sales reaching almost $16 billion this year while adding several remarkable titles to their catalog.
- Blizzard Entertainment
When looking for beautiful and enormous fantasy worlds with lots of intriguing lore that spurs engaging stories, Blizzard Entertainment is the developer to look for. The California-based company popularized the esports scene and fantasy genre, with gamers using lots of their titles to earn a reputation in the gaming community.
Since Blizzard came to life in 1991 under a different name, the company has gone through several iterations, restructurings, and acquisitions. Today, this US-based company is Activision Blizzard’s subsidiary and still invites players globally to their intricate, adventure-filled games.
Nowadays, the company’s game catalog features four IP pillars that have elevated it above other competitors. These games include StarCraft, Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
Activision Blizzard ranks 373rd on the list of Fortune 500 companies with a net worth of over $70 billion. Additionally, the company reported $8 billion in revenue in the 2020/2021 financial year, with a profit of almost $2.2 billion.
- Xbox Game Studios
While the company was only incorporated in March 2020, Xbox Game Studio has established itself as the world’s largest software company and among the best game publishers and developers. That doesn’t come as a surprise as this company has always strived to become a leader in the gaming world by creating some impressive consoles in the past decade.
The company was founded as Microsoft’s attempt to set a strong foothold in the gaming market after launching Microsoft Games at the beginning of a new millennium. This company underwent several iterations, before becoming Xbox Game Studios in 2019, consolidating Microsoft’s Xbox brand and the software video game divisions.
The latest revenue reports released by the parent company show that Xbox Game Studios earned over $3.7 billion in the quarter ending June in the FY 2020/2021. This revenue was mainly to boost the sale of their Xbox consoles and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
- Ubisoft
Based in the outskirts of Paris, Ubisoft is among the world’s top 5 video game developers. The company has given the gaming market some of the most anticipated video game titles every year, with their best-selling series being Far Cry. The company has also created other popular titles like Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, and Prince of Persia.
In 2021, Ubisoft has an estimated net worth of $4.5 billion, with its revenue consistently growing year after year. The company also reported a revenue of 2.23 billion euros in the 2020/2021 financial year, with most of the sales coming from digital purchases.
Bottom Line
The video gaming industry is booming more than it was a decade ago, with industry experts projecting that this multi-billion dollar business will reach close to $257 billion in revenue by 2025. For this reason, several other video game companies are trying their best to outrank the top five developers and publishers listed above. These companies include Sega, Tencent Games, Epic Games, Bandai Namco, Take-Two Interactive, and Electronic Arts, to name a few.
