Adults aged 45 and older account for 37% of total US video game players, mainly driven by women and an increased interest in console gaming. — Milos Dimic/Getty Images/AFP Relaxnews
Video games aren't just for young people. While over 70% of Americans have played video games, 37% of US video game players are adults aged 45 and older – a greater share than those aged 12-24, according to the latest Circana report.
On average, a gamer spends 14.5 hours a week playing video games, whether on mobile, PC or console, reports the "2024 US Gamer Segmentation” report by Circana.
The average gamer uses three different devices, although 92% of gamers play on their smartphone or tablet. Gamers spend 8.1 hours a week playing games on their smartphones or tablets – 1.1 hours more than in 2022.
Among PC gamers (51%), gaming time remained stable at 4.6 hours a week, while console gamers (50%) have increased their time by almost two hours to 10.2 hours a week.
For the purposes of this research, 5,100 gamers were surveyed between May and June 2024. Adults aged 18 and over shared their own experiences, while minors aged 10 to 17 completed the questionnaire alone or with the help of their parents. In the case of children aged 2, their parents completed the questionnaire on their behalf.
The findings show that 37% of gamers are aged 45 and over, representing the largest share of any population group. The report underlines that women and an increased interest in console gaming have largely contributed to this trend.
"Gen Alpha is less engaged than you might think. Children aged two to 12 had the most significant decline of any age group, down -6%, since 2022. On the other hand, while the average video game spending for teens and young adults is down slightly, these young players remain the industry’s most valuable age group in terms of both time and money spent," the analysis reads.
"During the pandemic, we saw a surge in incidental players who added gaming to their routines as public activities were put on hold; however, since then, many of these players have reversed course as life returned to normal," said Mat Piscatella, video games industry advisor at Circana. "Despite a decline in overall player numbers, what stands out in today’s gaming landscape is that the most dedicated gamers have stayed – and they’re spending both more time and money in the experience. Adapting to today’s new and more mature market normal will be necessary to avoid another stumble." – AFP Relaxnews
