Gaming Has Gone Mainstream

Here are some stats from the Entertainment Software Association's 2021 study:

67% of American adults (aged 18+) are players

76% of U.S. children (under 18) are players

The average video game player is 31 years old

45% of gamers identify as female.

80% of video game players in the U.S. are over 18.

More than half of all gamers (51%) played 7+ hours weekly.

The most popular game genre? Casual games, played by 63% of players, followed by action games (39%) or shooter games (39%).

This trend isn’t going away anytime soon. Despite the return to in-person work, school, and other events, gamers have now expanded beyond the traditional “hard-core” narrative, of players who once dedicated 20+ hours a week to their digital console. Mobile phones are now the most popular gaming device with more than 150 million monthly mobile gamers in the US this year, amounting to over 89% of all digital gamers. Other gaming platforms that serve as a happy medium between convenient mobile gaming technology and more advanced console systems are laptop and PC devices. An October 2021 survey found that 29% of US gamers played video games on a desktop or laptop. And, there are plenty of gaming devices, accessories, and complimentary items available that can be used as great prize, incentive, and award options, catering to a wide demographic, whether they play "Animal Crossing," "Call of Duty" or "Fortnite."

Gaming has even become a multi generational activity, with more parents playing games with their kids, too. 74% of parents recently said they play video games with their children at least weekly – up from 55% in 2020. Overall, 227 million Americans say they play video games, so if you’re not serving this segment of the population with your prize, incentive, and award needs, it’s time to power up the product offering.