People are craving comfort. Amid what can feel like a state of constant crisis – a layering of traumatic societal events – it can sometimes seem like we’ve lost a sense of scale and cohesion. In the face of this, the desire to retreat into nostalgia is more seductive than ever.

Gen Yers are finding solace in chocolate and candy snacks from their childhood, especially when faced with the stressors of true ‘adulting’ and post-pandemic pressures. This has prompted brands to update nostalgic tastes with contemporary values of health, sustainability, and functionality.

As an homage to old-school gaming, Pringles has launched a campaign to celebrate the gaming community and the importance of snacking culture in gaming. With widening gaming populations globally, connecting with this growing audience can be an organic extry point for brands.

The re-release of Pokémon bread has led to a social media meme and a subsequent sticker trading frenzy. While particularly nostalgic for Gen Yers, the hype over Pokémon stickers online has also allowed South Koreans across generations to connect with one another in new ways.

Gaming and snacking is a time-honored tradition – a bag of chips and a soda is never far from the archetypal ‘gamer’. But how does this notion hold up in 2021? Canvas8 spoke to ten American gamers about their eating habits to understand more about the relationship between snacking and gaming.