As two industries that rely on the evolution of computer and information technologies, video game and social media have undergone tremendously rapid development in a short period of time. At the same time, both industries share a similar user group, too. The two similarities lead to the author’s belief that there is a natural compatibility between the two seemingly irrelevant industries, and that social media is an effective and efficient channel for video game marketing and PR.

Therefore, this thesis is intended to explore the state of marketing/public relations activities of the video game industry in the new social media context. It explores the social-network presence of some popular video games, the online communication strategies/tactics employed by their companies, and the effectiveness of such activities. Based on these analyses, the author proposes a comprehensive social media framework for video games, and recommends corresponding PR/marketing strategies as well.

The thesis also includes the author’s predictions on the possible social media trends for video games in the future. As conclusion, the author provides a primer that lists recommended social media “do’s” and “don’ts” for game companies.

Key Words: video games, social media, public relations, marketing, communications