Two online gamers, Bjetka Alzbeta Zmelikova from Prague and Jacob Stewart from the US, who currently lives in London, finally met in person after four years of playing video games together. They first connected in 2020 during the pandemic through an online game of Among Us and developed a strong friendship by spending over 1,000 hours playing together virtually. Bjetka credits this friendship with helping her get through the isolation of lockdown and leaning on online interactions for her mental health. Jacob expressed his excitement at meeting Bjetka in real life and having the opportunity to game face to face. The pair even made plans for a mini stag do during Bjetka’s visit to London.
The meet-up between Bjetka and Jacob was made possible by Hisense at its Game At First Sight event, where gamers from different parts of the world came together to play on the newly released C2 Ultra and PX3 Pro. The event also brought together other pairs of gamers who have never met in person despite forming strong friendships through online gaming. Edd Pearson and Luke Brewton, who have been gaming together for 15 years, shared how they have supported each other through life’s ups and downs. Robyn Bruce and Stefica Schwarz, who consider each other best friends, also met for the first time at the event. The event highlighted the power of online gaming in fostering meaningful friendships that transcend geographical boundaries.
The event was hosted by online gaming influencers Mr Gibbon from Ireland and Anna Demetriou from the UK. They emphasized the importance of online gaming in forming strong friendships and providing a support network for many individuals. Research commissioned by Hisense found that 57% of online gamers have friends they’ve never met in person, with nearly three in 10 interacting with online friends multiple times a day. Despite not knowing much about each other outside the gaming world, nearly three-quarters of respondents believe they have forged meaningful friendships with people they have only met through gaming. The sense of community fostered through online gaming was deemed hugely important by 48% of respondents.
The research also revealed that over half of respondents believe the online friendships they’ve built through gaming have helped them find people with common interests, while nearly two-fifths say they’ve made them feel less lonely. Chris Joughin, a spokesperson from Hisense, highlighted the importance of online gaming communities in fostering connections and reducing feelings of isolation, especially in a digitally-driven world. The projectors showcased at the event were specifically designed for use with Xbox consoles and feature impressive refresh rates for an immersive gaming experience. With input lag being a common frustration among gamers, these products have been designed to ensure a fast refresh rate and smooth player motion, making them ideal for multiplayer gaming sessions.
