Online gaming isn’t going away; mobile and desktop gamers are playing more games than ever. Continue reading to find out fascinating statistics and trends about online gaming that will help you understand where the industry is and where it may be heading in the future.
Single-player games may have a compelling storyline that will keep you playing for hours, but they lack the important social aspect. Online gaming is the answer. If you look at online gaming statistics, you’ll see that it continues to grow in every aspect.
The Key Takeaways
- Video gaming is rising, with billions of players worldwide enjoying video games.
- Mobile video games are the most popular market share. Console gaming is second, and PC gaming last.
- There is a very narrow gender gap in the video game industry. 55% identify as male gamers, and 45% as female gamers.
- Statistics on video gaming addiction show that less than 10% of gamers worldwide have a problem with it, and they are predominantly male.
Trends in the online gaming industry are important to monitor, from the number and growth of players to the new titles. Let’s look at some statistics, facts, and trends to show where the online gaming industry is and where it can go in the future.
13 Online Gaming Statistics
We are your best source of information if you’re interested in the future state of the gaming industry. Online video games, mobile gaming, console gaming, and revenue statistics will be covered. These 13 online gaming statistics will help you see where the industry currently stands.
General Gaming Industry Statistics
Before we get into details about specific platforms, here are some statistics about the online gaming industry and where it stands today.
Video games are played by 77% of Millennials and 81% of Gen Zers.
-
What is the Global Game Market Revenue?
For 2021, the global gaming market revenue was $178.2 million. This number is expected to rise to $196 billion in 2022. The market has seen a steady rise since 1997. However, revenue growth has been much higher over the last seven years due to technological advancements.
-
What Games Do Gen Z and Millennials Like to Play?
77% of Millennials and 81% of Gen Z customers play video games. Gen Z gamers average 7
hours and 20 mins per week of video gaming, while Millennials average 6 hours and 50 minutes.
The percentage of generations that play video games:
> Gen Z: 81%
> Millennials: 77%
> Gen X: 60%
> 42% of Baby Boomers
-
How does gaming affect friendships and relationships?
We briefly touched on the social aspect.
78% of gamers in the U.S. believe online gaming is a major part of making new friends and developing relationships. Online gaming can help you make new friends or meet new people through the game.
-
How does playing online affect gamers?
Gaming is more than socializing. 90% of gamers in the U.S. say they have fun playing games, while 87% claim that gaming provides mental stimulation.
These are the effects of playing video games:
> Joy: 90%
> Mental stimulation: 87%
> Stress Relief: 87%
> teamwork skills: 81%
> Inspiration: 79%
> Mental stimulation: 87%
Video Game Demographic Statistics
Video gamers have a wide range of personal profiles. We can conclude from the below data that almost anyone can enjoy video games. Below are statistics about player demographics and their place in the gaming industry.
Video games are enjoyed by both children and adults alike.
-
How many Americans play video games?
In the United States, 67% of adults and 76% of children younger than 18 play video games. It’s no surprise that video games are a great way to socialize and have fun.
-
What is the average age of video game players?
The average gamer age is 31. The most popular age group for gamers is between 18-34 years old, with 38% of the total age range breakdown. Players under 18 are 20% below. Players over 65 are the least common age group, with only 7%
-
What percentage of players are female gamers?
There is a very small gender gap between online gamers and offline gamers. According to the 2021 Entertainment Software Association report, 55% of gamers identify themselves as males and 45% as females.
-
How common is excessive gaming?
Gaming addiction is more common in male gamers than in female gamers. Although compulsive gaming addiction is not common in the general population, it is more prevalent among male gamers who have played video games.
Statistics on Game Titles
Now, look at specific game titles after we have covered the gamer demographics and genres. Some games have built huge player bases quickly, while others have maintained a high market share.
-
Which Online Game Has The Most Players?
Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds has the highest peak Steam player count, at 3,257,248. Lost Ark is second with 1,325,305 users, which is significantly lower.
-
Fortnite’s Concerts and Virtual Events are Very Popular
Fortnite, Epic Games’ most beloved title, is no stranger to virtual events. Travis Scott’s Astronomical virtual concerts set a new record with 12.3 Million concurrent participants.
This was the same event in which the artist premiered his latest single.
It is not the only virtual concert. Ariana Grande has one in Fortnite. Royal Blood and Lil Nas X appear virtually in Roblox. The Courier Club recreates South by Southwest in Minecraft, naming it Block by Blockwest. There are some great performers.
Gaming Platform Statistics
Although PC gaming has not been dominant for a while, a recent trend saw console gamers take up an even greater share of the market, while the mobile games industry is the leader in the platform race.
-
How many gamers use their smartphones for mobile games?
Mobile gamers use their smartphones more often than they think, particularly for action and shooter titles. 57% of U.S. gamers use their smartphones to play, and many users also play casual games on their smartphones.
-
How many console gamers are there?
46% of American gamers are console gamers. Console gamers are more inclined to play a shooter or action games (60%), while casual games are not as popular.
The consoles, including the Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch, offer many advantages over computers. They are easier to set up and use, often less expensive, and come with features like aim assist in shooter video games.
-
How many gamers use PCs?
It was once a dominant market, but it is now second in the market, with mobile and console gamers taking over. Only 42% of U.S. gamers use PCs, while 71% play casual games most of the time.
Trends in Online Gaming
These are the top online and video gaming trends you should be paying attention to.
E-Sport Gaming
Let’s start with some interesting trends. We have the rapid growth of e-sports. In 2016, the total revenue was $493 million. By 2021, it will be more than three times that amount, with e-sports revenue reaching $1.65 billion.
About 40% of the revenue comes from sponsorships, and the rest comes from advertising, media fees, merch, and tickets.
Mobile Games
Many people prefer to play mobile games online from their couch rather than on a laptop or desktop computer. Mobile gaming is steadily increasing, and it is estimated that mobile gaming revenues will reach $93.2 billion in 2021, representing a 7.3% rise over 2020 and a significant leap.
Social Gaming
Last but not least: In 2020, 65% of gamers said they play with other gamers online and in person. This is a strong indicator of how important social interaction is; in 2021; it was 77%.
VR Gaming
Virtual reality gaming is growing rapidly, with approximately 2.14% of Steam users owning a VR headset. This represents an increase of 0.21% over the previous month of Jan. Steam is home to between 20 and 30 million users daily, so even though it isn’t a large number, it is still significant. With more than 47% of gamers choosing the Oculus Quest 2, it is the most widely used VR headset.
Final Thoughts: Mobile and Online Games
The online gaming industry won’t be going away, after all. There are always new video games, mobile gaming is at a record high, and there are more multiplayer games than ever.
These statistics on the online gaming industry should give you a better idea of the current market and the potential future.
Which of these statistics about the videogame industry did you find fascinating? Are you a gamer, or do you prefer streaming on Twitch? We’d love to hear from you!
And if you are a gaming enthusiast who wants to develop your own online game, look no more. Connect with our game development company to help you figure out a roadmap from planning to releasing on app stores.
