Gaming industry feels squeeze after pandemic boom

In the height of the pandemic, video games offered people solace in isolation. But now that life is slowly returning to pre-crisis normal, and inflation is soaring, gaming companies are feeling the pinch.    

Makers of consoles, accessories, and software for gaming are experiencing the same kind of post-pandemic effect as tech titans who saw business boom while COVID-19 fears kept people close to home.    

The squeeze has been exacerbated by steep inflation spurring belt-tightening and gaming fatigue after years of relying on indoor entertainment.    

Early in the pandemic, "people flocked to Twitch in droves - streamers and viewers alike," said Brandon Williams, who goes by the handle "BWpaco" on the Amazon-owned platform where gamers broadcast video game action.    

"But I've talked to quite a few people who have stopped streaming because they've had burnout or because it's not for them," the 30-year-old streamer added.    

"Or, they don't have the time anymore since they went back to work in person."    

Twitch viewership that soared during the pandemic has ebbed but remains above what is was in 2019.            

Matt Piscatella, an analyst with market research group NPD, estimated that people in the U.S. will spend about $55.5 billion on gaming in total this year, less than last year but still up 28 percent from the pre-pandemic year of 2019.    

U.S. video game giant Activision Blizzard, which Microsoft is in the process of purchasing, reported that sales in the first half of this year declined, with gamers spending less time in its powerhouse "Call of Duty" franchise.    

Nvidia, the California-based maker of high-performance graphics cards popular with gamers, recently issued an earnings warning...