PLUG AND PLAY

What do the watch and gaming industries have in common? More than you might think...

- Richard Holt

At first glance the watch industry doesn't seem to have much in common with video gaming. One is a world of cogs, springs and physics based timekeeping, other a land of power ups, med kits and reality free chaos. Why then do we see so many collaborations between these unlikely disciplines? 

Well perhaps they're not so different. Both rate pretty high on the list of things that nonbelievers think are a waste of money. There's certainly no denying when it comes to the bottom line, gaming is big business. Estimates value the global market at £200 billion. Depending whose numbers you believe, the watch industry is around a third that size, so when it comes to money, the digital newcomer has way more clout. And it's not just the gaming companies making money. If you are good enough at Call of Duty or Fortnite, you can become a professional, with the top players making millions in prize money and sponsorship - not bad for something that's 'only a game'.