Boasting over 45 million players and the Twitch record for most live viewers on a stream, third-person shooterFortnite Battle Royalehas taken the gaming world by storm. But given that it uses a free-to-play model, how is it avoiding the controversy that often surrounds in-game microtransactions?

How is pop music being used to make social statements? Why is the free-to-play model key to breaking down barriers in gaming? What’s the appeal of shared media experiences? And how is mistrust in mass media impacting news outlets and social media platforms?

Tablet-based Nintendo Switch console allows players to switch from playing on their TV or monitor to taking the game on the road. By blending high-definition console gaming with the portability of mobile games, Nintendo caters to people who want sophisticated and social mobile gameplay.

Not long ago, it was inconceivable that video games would be anything more than a niche pastime, let alone a path to a lucrative career. Yet e-sports now attract millions of fans and major brand sponsorships. How did they come to rival to traditional sports? And can they achieve mainstream success?