Now it’s official: video games connect generations.
Newzoo, a video game market research and analysis company, has Report on the current consumer behavior of game fans The results reveal that video games are no longer popular exclusively among young people, but across many generations.
A question of generation?
In an online survey, a total of 73,000 people from 36 markets about their consumption behavior regarding video games. Among other things, the researchers wanted to know whether the people had actively played a video game at least once in the last twelve months, watched content about it, or participated in other topic-related activities.
Any person who has performed at least one of the three activities during the said period is considered Gaming Enthusiast
This applies to 85 percent of those surveyed. A full 80 percent of them even play video games themselves.
Important to note: The survey takes into account only people who use the InternetAccordingly, the actual figures may differ slightly from the results of this research.
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The results for the so-called Baby Boomers generation are particularly surprising. This includes all people born between 1945 and 1964. 50 percent of them have played a video game in the last year and 53 percent are considered gaming enthusiasts. However, only 18 percent of them have consumed topic-related content such as podcasts and the like.
But that’s nothing compared to Generation Alpha. This includes all people born in 2010 or later. At 96 percent, it consists almost entirely of gaming enthusiasts. An incredible 94 percent of the generation has played a video game in the last 12 months and 80 percent have consumed topic-related content.
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How do other generations consume?
In our quick overview you will find out what the situation is like for the other generations surveyed and which categories they consumed in the 12 months prior to the survey.
Generation Alpha (from 2010): 96 percent gaming enthusiasts
- Video games: 94 percent
- Topic-related content: 80 percent
- Themed activities: 53 percent
Generation Z (1995 to 2009): 92 percent gaming enthusiasts
- Video games: 86 percent
- Topic-related content: 79 percent
- Topic-related activities: 44 percent
Millennials (1981 to 1994): 88 percent gaming enthusiasts
- Video games: 85 percent
- Topic-related content: 67 percent
- Thematic activities: 36 percent
Generation X (1965 to 1980): 72 percent gaming enthusiasts
- Video games: 67 percent
- Topic-related content: 39 percent
- Themed activities: 18 percent
Baby Boomers (1945 to 1964): 53 percent gaming enthusiasts
- Video games: 50 percent
- Topic-related content: 18 percent
- Thematic activities: 6 percent
It is clear that the younger a generation is, the more it consumes video games or themed content and activities. This is particularly evident in the themed content and activities that are hardly consumed by Baby Boomers despite their high usage of video games.
The research also found that younger generations are more likely to play action-packed titles such as Fortnite, Call of Duty and GTA, while older people are more likely to consume logic-based games. It was also discovered that while mobile game consumers dominate in terms of numbers, PC and console gamers invest more money in their hobby.
