Faced with months of lockdown, life simulator video games have surged in popularity, offering escapism, catharsis, and a supportive community. But The Sims Spark’d – a reality TV show that blurs the line between players and in-game avatars – confronts the uglier elements of gaming culture.

Given that the best thing people can do to flatten the COVID-19 curve is stay inside, interest in video gaming has understandably surged, becoming an essential activity to avoid boredom and maintain mental health. How has the pandemic changed the way Aussies view this escapist hobby?

While spending hours gaming might be enjoyable, being hunched over on the couch is definitely the opposite. Ikea and ROG’s gaming furniture collaboration comes as people increasingly rely on gaming to escape to pandemic-free virtual worlds during lockdown.

Is gaming set to take over people’s free time? What are the limits of virtual reality? How have media producers adapted to pandemic-inspired needs? In this part of the 2021 Expert Outlook, we speak to four experts about how people are finding both solace and escapism through screens.