CMF Trends’ Five Most-Read Articles of 2019

The year 2019 is slowly coming to a close – and what a year, what a decade, it has been. As we put the finishing touches to our upcoming Key Trends 2020 report, we put together this list of the five most-read CMF Trends stories of the past year. Happy reminiscing!

5 – Esports: Canada, a Player in the Gaming Arena

Global electronic sports (or eSports) revenues crossed the billion-dollar threshold in 2019, and analysts see no end to the sector’s growth. Although enthusiasm for the phenomenon remains modest in Canada, there are signs of an imminent catch-up. Read it here.

4 – Edmonton’s Growing Video Game Industry Sparks National, International Attention

Look out Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver! Edmonton is becoming an attractive market for the video game industry, courtesy of a new tax credit, reduced business costs, a great talent pool and an industry leader established in the city for more than 20 years. – Read it here.

3 – Game Studio Funding: The Right Investor at the Right Stage

As part of our exploration of project-specific financing options in the video game industry, we turned to the world of company-based equity funding, where investors bet on your ability to grow the value of a studio over the long term. Read it here.

2 – The Virtual Being Are Arriving

Photo courtesy of Quantum Capture

Virtual beings are beginning to engage audiences at levels comparable to human celebrities. Characters that seemingly have their own souls are having their rights licensed for use in major brand campaigns, selling out music tours in physical venues, and presenting local newscasts. Read it here.

1 – What Is the Future of Entertainment?

Photo Credit: Ben Sweet (Unsplash)

Entertainment is being redefined, disrupting existing industries along with consumer behaviour. There are outliers among our creative industries that are pushing the limits on existing storytelling practices, harnessing deep consumer understanding and leveraging technology to close the gap on their ultimate vision for what story can become. Read it here.


Maxime Ruel
Maxime Ruel works within CMF Trends, where he takes part in the organization’s strategic industry-monitoring effort and works on its two podcast series, Now & Next and Futur et médias. Prior to joining CMF Trends, he worked as a freelance writer and journalist and was part of C2 Montréal and Infopresse’s editorial teams. He also was the French digital editor for Passport 2017, a project highlighting Canada’s sesquicentennial.
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