The COVID-19 pandemic has kept everyone indoors, and as a result, a lot of people are playing video games. Which isn't a bad thing, as video games can be an entertaining way to pass the time or to stay socially connected during lockdowns.

Apart from the increased activity, how else has the COVID-19 pandemic affected gaming? In this article, we'll look at some of the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways that the pandemic has affected gaming...

1. Gaming Is Now a WHO-Endorsed Activity

The World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed online gaming as a healthy way to stay connected during the pandemic. The organization announced its support for online gaming along with a new campaign titled #PlayApartTogether, which strove to keep people socially connected while being physically distant.

Global Map Showing Covid-19 Cases

Over 50 different game companies joined in to support this campaign, spreading awareness and offering services like free weekends and discounts.

Raymond Chambers, the ambassador for global strategy at the WHO, released a statement saying that gaming could be an effective way to flatten the curve and save lives. He also thanked the game industry for their support with this new campaign.

This move from the WHO came as a surprise to some, because it wasn't all that long ago that the WHO declared gaming addiction to be a real problem. It classified "gaming disorder" as a disorder characterized by impaired control over gaming.

Many people rolled their eyes at the idea of this, but the WHO insisted that it affects a small percentage of gamers and that all gamers should remain aware of their playtime. As a result, many people were surprised to see the WHO endorse gaming as a healthy activity.

2. Many Gaming Events Have Been Cancelled

Just as with other sporting events that were affected by COVID-19, many eSports tournaments have been delayed or canceled. This has had a large impact on the eSports community, with many broadcasters and content creators losing their jobs as a result.

Empty Stadium Arena With Light Beams

Most eSports events that have not been delayed or canceled have gone online to be hosted virtually. This means that a handful of players will be continuing their seasons as normal, although they will not be able to play in front of any crowds.

Other gaming events have also been canceled, including E3, one of the industry's biggest live events. Hosted annually in Los Angeles, E3 was officially cancelled in 2020 and is offering an online alternative in 2021. E3 was already suffering from an identity crisis before the pandemic, so many are wondering how the event will recover from these cancellations.

Related: E3 2021 Goes Virtual: What You Need to Know About the Event

Finally, developer conferences like the Game Developers Conference (GDC) were canceled in 2020 and will be brought to developers completely online in 2021. Other notable cancellations include SXSW 2020 in Austin, Texas and PAX East 2021. SXSW 2021 is scheduled to take place online and PAX will host an online alternative over the summer.

3. People Have Purchased More Video Games

Video game sales are through the roof. Game companies are seeing increased sales, with record sales in 2020 and positive trends going into 2021. Big hits from the pandemic include Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Fall Guys, and Among Us, just to name a few.

Nintendo Switch Showing Animal Crossing New Horizons

Nintendo, in particular, is experiencing soaring profits. The company has sold over 12 million Nintendo Switch units during the pandemic and has seen its profits triple. One Nintendo game which sold extremely well is Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a small town life simulator which in many ways emulates life before the pandemic.

Another notable hit from the pandemic was the latest World of Warcraft expansion, Shadowlands. This sold 3.7 million copies on launch day, setting the record for the most sales in one day for any PC game ever.

Related: Microsoft Reveals Record Profits on the Back of Pandemic Boosts

4. Gaming Hardware Has Been Hard to Find

With more people looking to play video games, the demand for gaming hardware has increased drastically. A large number of people have decided to build gaming PCs during the pandemic, contributing to inflated hardware prices and part scarcity.

Xbox Series S Close Up Shot With Controller

Console gamers are buying Nintendo Switch consoles or waiting for next-gen consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X. These next-gen consoles have limited availability, making them harder to find.

If you are looking to invest in a new gaming setup right now, it may pay to be patient. Do your research to find out the prices you should expect, so you don't end up overpaying for hardware from a scalper or third party reseller. And if you can't afford the inflated prices on the market right now, you may be better off just waiting it out.

Related: Why Are Graphics Cards So Expensive Right Now?

5. Every Night Is Game Night

Before the pandemic, gaming platforms like Steam would see spikes in activity on weekends. During the course of the pandemic, this weekend spike in activity has become almost negligible.

SteamDB provides a data chart of concurrent steam users by week. During the pandemic, this chart has flattened, showing similar activity levels on every day of the week.

Gaming PC at Night with Assassin's Creed Running

In other words, the weekends aren't the only days that see increased gaming activity now. Perhaps with more people working from home or at least staying indoors, gaming has become a more popular weekday activity. Popular enough, in fact, to make weekends no different from weekdays in terms of gaming activity.

Pandemics Are a Good Time to Be a Gamer

The COVID-19 pandemic has had various effects on gaming.

More people are playing video games during the pandemic, and many are looking to buy new gaming setups. Gaming has also potentially become more socially acceptable for the time being, with an official endorsement from the World Health Organization.

Game developers and publishers are having a field day with increased sales and waves of new customers. Other industry professionals, however, have been less fortunate. eSports broadcasters and content creators have lost business due to cancelled gaming events. Other industry workers have also been forced to work remotely for the most part.

For the average person, now is a great time to be a gamer.

You can find plenty of people to play with during the week or on the weekend. Sure, if you like attending events you may to have to miss a few, but there are a host of online alternatives. As a whole, gamers haven't been too set back by the pandemic, if anything they've been freed up to play more games with more people.