The 2000s – video games go online
At the beginning of the second millennium, the Internet was not powerful or widespread enough to allow players to compete online. That’s why they met at LAN parties, events bringing together dozens or even hundreds of gamers in the same location, connected via local network.
Powerful graphical technologies made virtual worlds even more realistic. Thanks to artificial intelligence, simulated opponents no longer behaved in such a basic way, making the solo experience richer and more immersive.
The decade saw the birth of numerous bestsellers such as The Sims (2000), Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004), Super Mario Galaxy (2007), and Minecraft (2010).
2000: the arrival of sixth-generation consoles
The console war opposing Sega, Nintendo, Sony, and soon Microsoft resumed in late 1999. Sega opened hostilities in September in the United States with a 128-bit console, the Dreamcast. Despite innovative features including online connectivity, it would be Sega’s last console.
It was ahead of Sony, which held 60% market share at the beginning of 2000, and its PlayStation 2, marketed in Japan since early March. Sony’s console had the same technical capabilities as Sega’s but benefited from an incomparable game catalog and a built-in DVD player.
For Christmas 2000, Nintendo launched the GameCube in Japan, its first console using optical discs instead of cartridges. While technically capable, it struggled to compete with the PS2’s massive library.
In November 2001, Microsoft made its grand entry into the console market with the Xbox. The American giant brought its computing expertise and online vision to gaming, forever changing the competitive landscape.
The Xbox introduced Xbox Live in 2002, a revolutionary online gaming service that would set the standard for console online play. Games like Halo 2 demonstrated the potential of online multiplayer on consoles.
Sony responded with its own online network, though it was less unified than Microsoft’s approach. The PS2 remained the dominant console of the generation, selling over 155 million units worldwide.
2001: success of 3D games and the emergence of online gaming
The year 2001 saw the success of innovative games across all platforms. Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized open-world gaming on PS2, offering unprecedented freedom in a 3D urban environment.
On PC, online gaming exploded with titles like Counter-Strike, which became the reference for competitive FPS. The concept of esports began to formalize with organized tournaments and prize pools.
MMORPGs continued to grow with EverQuest, Dark Age of Camelot, and Final Fantasy XI, building massive communities of players investing hundreds of hours in virtual worlds.
The gaming industry was now firmly established as a major entertainment sector, with revenues rivaling and eventually surpassing the film industry.
Broadband Internet progressively replaced dial-up connections, enabling smoother online experiences and opening the door to digital distribution of games.
Blizzard continued its dominance with Warcraft III (2002), which not only became a competitive esports title but also gave birth to a custom map that would evolve into the MOBA genre: Defense of the Ancients (DotA).
The emergence of broadband also enabled voice chat during gaming sessions, fundamentally changing the social aspect of online gaming and fostering the creation of gaming communities.
2002: the beginning of a new era of video games
After a timid start, the GameCube gradually gained strength during the summer, thanks to the release of excellent titles that defined a new graphic style, faithful to Nintendo’s colorful universe.
In terms of software, the year saw great games parade across all systems: Metal Gear Solid 2, on PS2, explored new narrative paths through a very ambitious scenario. The game pushed the boundaries of storytelling in the medium.
Halo, on Xbox, confirmed the success of FPS on consoles, and Mafia, in a more subtle register than its cousin GTA3, impressed on PC.
Capcom remained a leader in its domain: the success of Final Fantasy X on PS2 confirmed once again that Squaresoft’s flagship series was still as popular. Kingdom Hearts, combining Disney and Final Fantasy universes, became an unexpected phenomenon.
2004: evolution of MMOs with WoW and the first console application market
The MMO market took a turn in late 2004 when Vivendi Universal Games launched its first and only MMO game, World of Warcraft (WoW), developed by its subsidiary Blizzard Entertainment. WoW would go on to attract over 12 million subscribers at its peak.
During this year as well, Microsoft opened the first console application marketplace through Xbox Live Arcade, allowing players to download smaller games directly to their console. This model would become standard across all platforms.
2005: the battle of home consoles
Microsoft struck first with the Xbox 360, launched in November 2005. The console offered impressive hardware, a refined Xbox Live service, and would become a reference for online gaming on consoles.
Sony responded in November 2006 with the PlayStation 3, an ambitious but expensive console ($599) that integrated a Blu-ray player. Its high price initially hindered sales, but exclusive titles and the free PlayStation Network gradually won gamers over.
Nintendo, rather than competing on raw power, chose innovation with the Wii (2006). Its motion-sensing controllers attracted a new audience of casual gamers, families, and seniors. The Wii became a cultural phenomenon and outsold its competitors.
The portable market also saw fierce competition between the Nintendo DS (2004) and Sony’s PSP (2005). The DS, with its dual screen and touch capabilities, dominated in sales while the PSP attracted core gamers with its multimedia capabilities.
The seventh generation of consoles marked the true beginning of the digital distribution era, with all three manufacturers offering online stores for purchasing games and content.
The emergence of casual gaming
The mid-2000s saw the explosion of casual gaming, targeting a broader audience beyond traditional gamers. Web-based Flash games, simple mobile games, and the Wii’s accessible approach opened gaming to millions of new players.
Game publishers, recognizing that a path to the mass market was opening, also created their own casual labels. Ubisoft and Electronic Arts launched PlayZone and EA Casual respectively, investing heavily in this new segment.
2006: competitors for Xbox Live and confirmation for the DS
2006 saw the launch of Valve’s Steam software distribution platform. Long confined to distributing patches, Steam gained importance in late 2004 with the launch of Half-Life 2, which required the platform for activation. By 2006, Steam was becoming the dominant PC gaming storefront.
2006 was also the year of confirmation for the Nintendo DS phenomenon: one of the most popular consoles of all time, particularly in Japan where it topped sales charts every week. Innovative titles like Brain Training and Nintendogs attracted a completely new gaming audience.
2008: birth of the App Store
It was during 2008 that Apple’s App Store, the download platform created by Apple for iPod Touch, iPhone, and later the iPad, became accessible, precisely on July 11, 2008. This event would revolutionize the gaming industry by opening a new distribution channel.
In 2009, cloud gaming services specifically designed for gaming began to appear, foreshadowing a future where games could be streamed rather than downloaded. The 2000s had transformed gaming from a niche hobby into a mainstream entertainment powerhouse.
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