With people spending more time at home, they’re turning to entertainment to break the monotony of the everyday and channel their anxiety into something more hands-on. But can escapism really help people feel more empowered? And how do they want brands to speak to them during a pandemic?

Robin Games, a female-led games developer, is aiming to disrupt the mobile gaming industry with stylized ‘fantasy’ lifestyle content. It’s targeting women, who make up almost half of the games industry, with the aim of better reflecting the type of content they want to experience.

Amazon’s GameOn has launched on iOS, letting users record short clips of smartphone gaming and upload them to the platform. Taking cues from platforms like TikTok and Instagram stories, the app broadens the streaming space for avid app gamers, but in a smartphone-appropriate setting.

The pandemic has pushed gaming into the spotlight as people spend more time at home and try to manage their anxiety through virtual play. But despite the large – and growing – number of female players, developers have been slow to create games tailored to this audience. Enter HoloVista.