70+ Video Game Statistics 2024 (Gaming Stats about Games)
Understanding the significant impact of video gaming is crucial for businesses, advertisers, and individuals navigating the changing world of digital interaction and entertainment. By exploring video game data, we can uncover the industry’s rapid growth, understand consumer behavior, and spot key trends in the video game market.
There’s a lot of data about video gaming out there, but it’s often spread across different reports and websites. To address this, we’ve put together a detailed list of 70+ key video game industry stats for 2024.
From demographics to revenue numbers, from new trends to technological advancements, this article is a valuable resource for anyone looking for deeper insights into the dynamic realm of video gaming.
Standout Points in Video Game Data
- In 2023, the total global revenue of the video game industry hit $184.0 billion, with a yearly growth of 0.6%.
- There were approximately 3.38 billion video game players worldwide in 2023.
- The Asia-Pacific region had the highest number of gamers in 2023, making up 52% of the global gaming community.
- Grand Theft Auto V, the top-selling console/PC game, sold over 190 million units by November 2023, spanning three console generations and PC.
- Between 1.7% and 10% of Americans are affected by video game addiction.
- Minecraft sold over 300 million copies by October 2023 across different gaming platforms.
- Tetris remains a bestseller, with 520 million copies sold across multiple platforms.
- In 2023, 32% of developers worked for independent game studios.
- Demographic data shows the average age of gamers is 35. In 2022, there were around 1.7 billion male gamers and 1.39 billion female gamers.
- AI is revolutionizing game development, with 49% of developers utilizing these tools in their work.
Essential Video Game Data: User Engagement and Platform Usage
The gaming industry has seen a significant increase in active users across various platforms.
By 2023, the global gaming community had around 3.31 billion members, according to the Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report.
Mobile gaming contributed significantly in recent years, representing 72% of total video gaming revenue in 2023, as per mobile gaming data.
The PS2 has become the top-selling video game console ever, with over 158 million units sold globally by February 2024.
Notably, the Nintendo Switch is the leading current-gen console in terms of total unit sales, having shipped over 137.7 million units.
Time Spent Playing Games on Average
The average time spent playing video games has remained fairly steady over the past few years.
In 2022, around 22% of US adults aged 18 to 29 spent six to ten hours per week playing video games, as indicated by a report. A survey in December 2023 showed similar figures.
| Time Spent Weekly Playing Video Games by US Adults, by Age Group | ||||
| Category | 18-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-64 |
| Less than 1 hour | 12% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
| 1 to 5 hours | 29% | 27% | 27% | 25% |
| 6 to 10 hours | 22% | 21% | 18% | 13% |
| 11 to 15 hours | 11% | 14% | 11% | 7% |
| 16 to 20 hours | 7% | 10% | 9% | 4% |
| More than 20 hours | 8% | 7% | 7% | 5% |
| Don’t know | 3% | 2% | 4% | 3% |
| I don’t play video games | 8% | 9% | 15% | 33% |
Source: Statista, as of December 2023
In-Game Purchases
In-game purchases have become a significant way for the gaming industry to make money.
The amount of money global gamers spend on extra in-game stuff is expected to go over $74.4 billion by 2025.
By 2023, the money spent on in-game extras on mobile alone was guessed to be about $89.7 billion – which was about 97% of the total cash made from this.
The rest of the money came from full-game digital cash, which covers mobile versions of old-school games like the original Final Fantasy games.
Playing with Others
Playing games with lots of people at once, aka multiplayer games, has become very popular.
These games usually focus on working together and being a team, which encourages players to interact with each other. Huge online multiplayer games (MMOs) are especially popular because they’re all about hanging out and making friends.
What’s Happening in the Video Game World
The video game business is expected to reach a value of almost $256.97 billion by 2025 and offers a great place for new ideas and getting people interested in stuff for businesses and marketing too.
The trends in this lively business are varied, with one big trend being that digital game sales keep growing, way more than when people buy physical games.
Actually, in 2023, almost 89.55% of games bought were digital downloads, and only about 10.45% were real game discs.
This movement to buying games online is all thanks to online shops making things easy and more games only being available in digital form.
| Category | Type | 2022 (£m) | 2023 (£m) | % Change |
| Games | Physical | 517.9 | 495 | -4.42% |
| Digital | 4090 | 4240 | +3.67% | |
| Total | 4607.9 | 4735 | +2.76% |
What happened to physical and digital games in 2022/2023. Source: Statista
Also, the slow but steady rise of indie games is pretty interesting.
These games, often made by small teams or even one person, have become popular because they’re different and have cool art and gameplay.
A report by the CDC in 2024 showed that 32% of game makers in 2023 worked for indie studios, followed by big studios.
Most of them (57%) worked at smaller studios with fewer than 50 people. Big studios usually have more staff. Three-quarters (75%) of big studio developers worked at places with over 250 employees, while most indie game creators worked for studios with 20 people or fewer.
When it comes to promoting stuff to gamers, working with popular gamers and putting ads inside games has worked really well. The worldwide in-game ads market was worth about $109.60 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $145.50 billion by 2027.
PC Market Keeps Growing
In 2023, the computer game market made a lot of money, breaking records with $9 billion in revenues, 580 million games sold, 33.6 million people playing at once online, and 14,000 games released on Steam.
Their success is clear as new games did better than expected, with the industry doubling in size compared to 2019.
Additionally, the number of games available on Steam has shot up since COVID-19 began, almost reaching 14,000 games by 2023.
Overall, 66% of games made in 2023 were for PC, with 35% for PlayStation 5 and 34% for Xbox Series S/X.
Gaming’s Impact on Buying Behavior
Video games affect what people buy, through ads in games, virtual items you can buy, and game-themed stuff that can shape how gamers spend money.
The global virtual goods business, worth $81.13 billion in 2023, is predicted to hit $294.13 billion in 2030.
For instance, ads in games show gamers new stuff, which can change how they think and buy things. Virtual items like skins and weapons, that you can get within the game, bring in lots of money as gamers are happy to pay for better experiences. Additionally, game-related products such as clothes, collectibles, and hardware add to the gaming industry’s financial impact.
A study in 2022 found that 80% of console gamers like to keep items from their favorite games, while 54% of casual gamers also want game-related items.
Moreover, 41% of buyers get men’s or boy’s clothes as gifts, and 35% buy for themselves.
Many factors contribute to why video games and gaming content are so popular and do well.
Games that connect with all types of players often have cool stories, good graphics, easy controls, and clear long-term goals.
Platforms like Twitch have changed gaming, with over 8.36 million active streamers in January 2024 and 76% of gaming content streamed on Twitch in 2023.
In 2023, Twitch had 2.86 billion hours of live gaming, and the top categories had billions of views.
The number of people watching game streams is estimated to hit 920 million by 2024, with Twitch having over 140 million different viewers per month.
In Q3 2022, top platforms showed around 7.2 billion hours of content watched.
Furthermore, as the Game Transfer Phenomena (GTP) framework explains, the stories in games are vital in how popular they get, bringing players together and becoming part of our shared experiences.
This mix of exciting stories, new gameplay, and the impact of content makers and streaming platforms all help make gaming a viral hit.
Lately, gaming has moved beyond just fun, becoming a lively place for building relationships.
In a 2023 survey by Statista, 88% of gamers said gaming helped them connect with similar people, expanding their social circles, while 82% talked about forming new friendships and relationships through gaming.
In the US, most people play games, with 4 out of 5 being involved in gaming in the last half-year.
The survey also highlighted the social side of gaming, with 60% of US gamers mentioning how games keep them close to friends and family, and 50% even meeting partners through games.
Growing use of social media and online communities has led to the development of close-knit gamer groups that go beyond just competing to build real and lasting friendships.
The increase in playing games during the COVID pandemic, highlighted how games can be an important way to connect when feeling isolated.
How Gaming Affects Mental and Physical Health
The effects of gaming on mental and physical health have gained significant attention recently.
As per a study from the University of Oxford in 2022, playing games is linked to overall well-being.
However, gaming can also pose physical risks. Common injuries due to excessive gaming like carpal tunnel syndrome and “gamer’s thumb” are common among players.
Excessive gaming has been associated with higher body weight and lower self-reported health status.
Moreover, statistics on video game addiction from 2023 show that between 1.7% and 10% of Americans have problems with this.
Despite possible negatives, some studies indicate that video games can have positive impacts, such as aiding in physical therapy.
Indeed, a recent global survey mentioned in the latest Power of Play report revealed that most of the 12,847 players from 12 countries surveyed believe games help reduce stress (71%), ease anxiety (61%), and combat feelings of being alone (55%).
Many players also feel games provide a good way to unwind (64%), contribute to their happiness (63%), and help during tough times (52%).
Furthermore, two-thirds (67%) said games have helped them make new friends and relationships.
Worldwide Gaming Audience
In the third quarter of 2023, gender gaming statistics showed that 89.6% of young females and 92.6% of young males worldwide aged 16 to 24 play video games on different devices.
These numbers decrease with age, with fewer women and men participating in gaming as they get older.
2023 Global players per region. Source: Newzoo.
The growth of the gaming community can be credited to various reasons like advancements in technology such as mobile gaming, online multiplayer platforms, and the use of virtual and augmented reality.
Changes in society towards being more open to gaming and improved portrayal of different cultures and backgrounds in games have also helped in this expansion.
More options for people with disabilities to play games have made gaming more widespread and inclusive.
Annual Revenue
The video game industry has been a major part of the global economy, making billions of dollars in revenue. In 2022, the gaming market around the world made nearly $347 billion, with mobile gaming contributing about $248 billion of that amount.
In November 2023, Nintendo was at the top of the global gaming market with a market value of $53.69 billion, followed by Electronic Arts at $35.96 billion.
Other significant players included Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. at $26.26 billion and Roblox Corporation at $23.65 billion.
Roblox Corporation, entering the public market on March 10, 2021, had an impressive $37 billion market value on its first day of trading.
Despite facing declines in 2022 and 2023, it remained a major player in the industry.
Activision Blizzard, previously a dominant force, saw a drop in value due to legal issues, falling to almost $46.98 billion by October 2021. However, there was a resurgence in early 2023, with its market value reaching $67.06 billion. Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in January 2022 led to its removal from the stock exchange in October 2023 after regulatory approval.
By the end of 2023, though, Tencent emerged as the top gaming company worldwide in terms of earnings, with a massive $7,442 million. Sony, Apple, and Microsoft were not far behind.
Generally, revenue in the video game industry comes from various sources such as game sales, in-game purchases, subscriptions, advertising, and esports.
Free-to-play games, which are free initially and make money through ads, in-game transactions, and optional purchases, form a substantial part of gaming revenue.
Additionally, the industry has shown significant growth and changes, particularly with a rise of 14.2% between 2022 and 2023.
This increase was fueled by social and casual gaming as many turned to gaming during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Forecasts for the mobile gaming sector alone suggest a revenue of $98.74 billion in 2024.
Looking ahead, the video game industry is expected to keep growing.
Estimates indicate that by 2025, the global gaming industry will be worth $321 billion, with video games making $282.30 billion in revenue in 2024.
This growth, expected to continue at an annual rate of 8.76% between 2024 and 2027, is driven by ongoing technological advancements, improved high-speed network connections, and continued demand for immersive gaming experiences.
Popular Platforms and Titles
The popularity of video games is supported by different factors like population growth, broader demographics, better accessibility, social connections, and changing cultural views.
Some platforms have gained large followings in recent years.
The PlayStation 5 has sold about 46.6 million units worldwide, while the Xbox Series X and Series S have sold roughly 21 million units.
On the other hand, the Nintendo Switch has been the most popular, selling over 132.5 million consoles globally since its launch in 2017.
As for streaming platforms, Twitch is prominent, with around 8.36 million active streamers as of January 2024.
YouTubeGaming, while not as popular as Twitch, also has a large number of users, with around 544 thousand people watching at the same time in the third quarter of 2022.
In 2024, standout video games define the gaming world.
Grand Theft Auto V, the top-selling game for consoles and PCs, has sold more than 190 million copies by November 2023, across three console generations and PC.
Minecraft, with over 300 million copies sold by October 2023, goes beyond gaming to various other mediums.
Tetris remains the all-time bestseller, with 520 million copies sold across multiple platforms since it first came out.
By January 2024, the most popular games on Steam in terms of the number of players at the same time include “Counter Strike 2”, “Dota 2”, “PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS”, “Baldur’s Gate 3”, and “Team Fortress 2”.
Video Games Job Market Stats: Most Common Roles
In a 2023 survey, the most common roles in the video game industry were game designers and programmers, making up 34% and 33% of respondents, respectively.
Closely following were production and project management roles, accounting for 31% of respondents.
Other important roles included business and finance at 20%, visual arts at 19%, and narrative/writing at 14%.
Emerging Video Game Industry Trends
The video game industry is always changing, driven by new trends and technologies that shape its future. Here are some of the most important upcoming trends and what they mean for the industry.
Immersive Technologies: VR, AR, and MR Gaming
Virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) are changing the gaming world with their immersive experiences.
In the US, around 65.9 million people used VR and 110.1 million used AR in 2023, with an estimated 171 million VR users worldwide.
It’s predicted that by 2027, both AR and VR will have over 100 million users globally. These technologies blur the line between virtual and real worlds, giving gamers new levels of immersion and interaction.
Blockchain Integration Decline
Blockchain technology is becoming more common in gaming, providing security and efficiency in gameplay and transactions.
It has helped with secure transactions, reduced fraud, and given players more power in virtual economies.
However, despite its growth, blockchain investments in gaming dropped significantly in 2023.
The total investment value was $1.4 billion, a 72% decrease from the previous year.
There were 214 known blockchain investments in gaming companies that year.
It’s important to consider the bigger picture of blockchain’s impact.
According to Grand View Research, investments in these technologies could grow at a rate of 68.3% from 2023 to 2030.
At the same time, recent data indicates that most developers are losing interest or trust in these technologies.
Source: 2024 State of the Game Industry Survey
Cross-Platform Gaming
Based on Newzoo’s 2023 PC & Console Gaming Report, players who play games on PC, console, and mobile devices, known as “tri-platform players,” are showing more interest and spending in gaming.
The research demonstrates that almost one in four PC or console gamers use all three platforms, showing a significant part of the gaming community investing time and money.
This information suggests that using multiple platforms is linked to more playing time and spending.
Additionally, insights about the group show that 62% of these tri-platform players are male, with 46% aged between 10 and 25.
Their favorite activities include playing video games (67%), watching movies and TV shows (57%), and listening to or playing music (49%).
Adventure is seen as the most liked genre by this group on any device.
AI Tools Are Changing Game Development
During the last year, Generative AI technology’s popularity has increased, thanks to platforms like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Midjourney, making it more accessible and adopted.
More companies have been investing resources in this field.
A survey by CDC shows that 49% of developers use Generative AI tools at work, with 31% using them personally and 18% noticing their colleagues using them.
However, a quarter of them are not interested in using these tools.
At the same time, while developers seem unsure about how Generative AI will affect the industry, they do have strong concerns about its ethical implications.
A large majority (84%) have some level of worry about the ethical implications of using Generative AI, contrasting with the 12% who said they had no concerns.
Challenges in the Games Industry Workforce
The games industry has experienced significant layoffs in recent times.
In 2023, around 10,500 game industry employees lost their jobs, and this trend has continued into 2024. In the first two months of the year, over 7,800 job cuts were announced.
Key players like EA and Unity Software have contributed to these numbers, with EA reducing 5% of their workforce and Unity Software laying off almost 25% of their employees.
These layoffs have had a profound impact on the industry and its workers, highlighting a challenging period for the games sector.
The Future of the Games Industry
As the gaming industry evolves due to technological advancements, changing market dynamics, and evolving consumer preferences, it is at a crucial point poised for significant growth and innovation.
Adopting emerging trends like immersive technologies, blockchain integration, and the growth of indie games while tackling workforce challenges and regulatory issues will be crucial for industry participants.
By remaining flexible, adaptable, and mindful of the desires and expectations of gamers globally, the gaming industry can navigate the future complexities with resilience and creativity, ensuring its long-term relevance and importance in the digital era and beyond.
FAQs
What are the positive statistics of video games?
According to the Entertainment Software Association’s Power of Play report 2024, about 75% of global players think video games provide stress relief and mental stimulation. Almost two-thirds also believe video games provide them with “a healthy outlet from everyday challenges” (64%) and make them happier (63%).
REFERENCES:
These statistics were taken from various sources around the world (worldwide) including these countries:
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America), US Minor Outlying Islands, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Data is coming from all regions including Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland and from people of different backgrounds (Arab, Arabic, African, Asian, Latin, Latino, Latina, Male, Men, Female, Women, Black, Causasian and more.
Stats are from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2034, 2035, 2036, 2037, 2038, 2039, 2040, 2041, 2042, 2043, 2044, 2045, 2046, 2047, 2048, 2049, 2050.
Stats were also taken from these US cities and states:
CITIES:
New York (NYC), Los Angeles (LA), Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, San Jose, Austin, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, Columbus, Charlotte, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Seattle, Denver, Washington, Boston, El Paso, Nashville, Detroit, Oklahoma City, Portland, Las Vegas, Memphis, Louisville, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Albuquerque, Tucson, Fresno, Mesa, Sacramento, Atlanta, Kansas City, Colorado Springs, Miami, Raleigh, Omaha, Long Beach, Virginia Beach, Oakland, Minneapolis, Tulsa, Tampa, Arlington, New Orleans, Wichita, Cleveland, Bakersfield, Aurora, Anaheim, Honolulu, Santa Ana, Riverside, Corpus Christi, Lexington, Henderson, Stockton, Saint Paul, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Greensboro, Lincoln, Anchorage, Plano, Orlando, Irvine, Newark, Durham, Chula Vista, Toledo, Fort Wayne, St. Petersburg, Laredo, Jersey City, Chandler, Madison, Lubbock, Scottsdale, Reno, Buffalo, Gilbert, Glendale, North Las Vegas, Winston-Salem, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Fremont, Garland, Irving, Hialeah, Richmond, Boise, Spokane, Baton Rouge.
STATES:
Alabama AL, Alaska AK, Arizona AZ, Arkansas AR, California CA, Colorado CO, Connecticut CT, Delaware DE, Florida FL, Georgia GA, Hawaii HI, Idaho ID, Illinois IL, Indiana IN, Iowa IA, Kansas KS, Kentucky KY, Louisiana LA, Maine ME, Maryland MD, Massachusetts MA, Michigan MI, Minnesota MN, Mississippi MS, Missouri MO, Montana MT, Nebraska NE, Nevada NV, New Hampshire NH, New Jersey NJ, New Mexico NM, New York NY, North Carolina NC, North Dakota ND, Ohio OH, Oklahoma OK, Oregon OR, Pennsylvania PA, Rhode Island RI, South Carolina SC, South Dakota SD, Tennessee TN, Texas TX, Utah UT, Vermont VT, Virginia VA, Washington WA, West Virginia WV, Wisconsin WI, Wyoming WY.
