Who are the gamers in the United States?
In 2022, there were approximately 188.9 million gamers in the United States, the majority of which were digital gamers. Among all digital gaming segments in the United States, mobile games had the largest audience with about 150 million users. Almost half of the gamers in the United States are female. This development has been ongoing for years, and whereas women are under-represented in games media and the industry, they account for a sizable chunk of players and spending power. There are some differences in terms of genre preferences but female gaming audiences in the United States are just as engaged as their male counterparts.Approximately a quarter of video gamers in the United States were under 18 years old, and gamers aged 18 to 34 years accounted for more than a third of gaming audiences. Though many gamers in the U.S. have playing video games during the COVID-19 pandemic, 36 percent of console gamers and 30 percent of PC gamers in the United States have been playing video games for more than ten years, respectively.
How engaged are gamers in the United States?
A December 2021 survey found that console and PC gamers were likely to spend more weekly hours on gaming than their mobile gaming counterparts. In total, 43 percent of U.S. console gamers spent more than six hours per week playing video games, compared to only 37 percent of mobile gamers who did the same.The most popular reasons for U.S. gamers to play video games were to pass time, followed by stress relief, and as a hobby (the first two are also mirrored in the popularity of certain gaming genres like puzzle or arcade games, which perform strongly on mobile). The main motivations for U.S. gamers to start a new game are reviews, followed by their friends already playing it.
Spotlight: friends, family, and gaming
Another big draw of video gaming is community - a 2022 survey found that 83 percent of gamers in the United States played with others online or in person, up from 65 percent of U.S. gamers who did so in 2020. According to U.S. gamers, friends are the most popular group of people to play online with. Additionally, 83 percent of respondents from the same survey stated that video games had introduced them to new friendships and relationships, and 46 percent of respondents stated that they had met a good friend, spouse, or significant other through gaming.Online gaming gained a significant boost during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people were forced to socially distance themselves and forego their usual socializing activities. During this time, playing games was a popular way of connecting with friends and family and many of those who started gaming during the pandemic have kept enjoying their newfound hobby.
