From Pong to GTA VI: Play your way through 50 years of video games

What the report says

Al Jazeera’s feature traces the evolution of video games from the early arcade era to the looming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, framing the industry as a business that generated $201.6bn in revenue in 2025, according to market researcher Newzoo. Published on 12 November 2026, the piece uses a six-level interactive format to move through major milestones across five decades, from Pong to GTA VI.

The story highlights how games shifted from simple arcade and home-console hits in the 1970s and 1980s, such as Pong and Super Mario Bros, to the rise of 3D gaming and online play in the 1990s and 2000s with titles like Doom and Grand Theft Auto III. It also notes Nintendo’s Wii and Wii Sports as examples of the industry reaching broader audiences, including families and older players, and points to the growing influence of mobile gaming, streaming and e-sports in the 2010s.

A central focus is Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI, due to launch on 19 November 2026 after a 13-year gap since its predecessor. Al Jazeera says the game has drawn unusual attention, including more than 90 million YouTube views for its first trailer in 24 hours in December 2023. The article suggests the release matters because it arrives at a mature, highly lucrative industry that has repeatedly changed through new hardware, new business models and wider cultural debates about games, violence and accessibility.