The proliferation of smartphones has seen video gaming break free from the sofa and enter the wider world, opening the medium up to new audiences. But beyond helping people to pass the time, how have mobile games become so popular? And what are the commercial barriers and opportunities?

The allure of a virtual world – in which anyone could have magical powers and take risks without consequences – is evidenced by the fact that nearly 19 million people play video games in the UK alone. Canvas8 sat down with Dr. Andrew Kuo to understand why we actively escape into virtual worlds.

The global cost of mental healthcare is set to exceed $6 trillion by 2030, and as dementia, depression and anxiety afflict a greater number of people, it’s unlikely that existing treatment options will be able to meet demand. Can tech, drugs or video games provide a viable alternative?

Only 22% of game developers are women, and female characters within the medium are often underrepresented and oversexualised. To make things worse, new research hints that the more time teen boys spend playing video games, the more likely they are to develop sexist attitudes.