ESA report shows the average gamer is 41 – and nearly half are women

[ad_1] The takeaway: The outdated stereotype that video games are largely for youthful individuals – and males – has as soon as once more been proved outdated. The Leisure Software program Affiliation's (ESA) newest survey exhibits that the typical age of respondents is 41, and the cut up between women and men is nearly 50/50.

The ESA's newest Energy of Play survey concerned 24,216 individuals from 21 nations throughout six continents. It covers a number of classes, from gamer demographics to the explanation why individuals play video games.

One of many highlighted findings is that the typical age of respondents – all of whom have been aged 16 and over on the time – is 41. Furthermore, the gender cut up is 51% males and 48% ladies.

As for the respondents' prime causes for taking part in video games, the obvious one, to have enjoyable, is the most typical, named by 66% of respondents. In second place is stress reduction/leisure at 58%, which one presumes comes from these enjoying the likes of Anno 1800 moderately than Elden Ring. Lastly, retaining minds sharp and exercising brains was the third commonest purpose named (45%).

One other part of the survey appears at the advantages that enjoying video games can convey. Most individuals (81%) stated that they supply psychological stimulation, and 80% stated they supply stress reduction. Different solutions included offering an outlet for on a regular basis challenges (72%), introducing individuals to new buddies and relationships (71%), decreasing anxiousness (70%), and serving to individuals really feel much less remoted or lonely by connecting them to others (64%).

The advantages of gaming

It is famous that amongst avid gamers aged 16 to 35, 67% stated they've met a detailed good friend or accomplice by gaming. And nearly half of US respondents stated video games enhance their parent-child relationship – a distinction to the long-held declare that kids typically develop distant from their dad and mom on account of enjoying video games.

There are some attention-grabbing solutions within the class of what expertise video games can enhance. Round three-quarters of respondents agree that creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork/collaboration can all be improved by gaming. Greater than half stated video games improved their real-world athletic expertise, and plenty of stated video games improved or influenced their schooling or profession path.

Unsurprisingly, cellular gadgets are the most well-liked gaming platform throughout all demographics, which is able to probably convey debate over the definition of "gamer." Fifty-five p.c of respondents stated it was their favourite manner of enjoying video games. It is particularly common amongst these over 50 (61% on this age group stated they play on cellular), whereas half of these below 35 stated they recreation on these gadgets. In the meantime, consoles and PCs are each performed by 21% of individuals.