In this day and age, it is virtually impossible to go through life without having at least a little knowledge of the gaming industry. From public debate on whether games such as Grand Theft Auto result in violent tendencies, to the success of franchises such as Call of Duty and Mass Effect, gaming is everywhere. It’s no surprise then that the ESA’s (Entertainment Software Association) recent 2019 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry survey found that three in four Americans have at least one gamer in their household.
According to the ESA’s survey, roughly 65% of American adults – or more than 164 million people- play video games. Unsurprisingly, about 21% of gamers are under the age of eighteen. The survey revealed that 90% of children’s parents pay attention to which games their children play. 87% of this same group are aware of the ESRB and 77% regularly use ESRB ratings when deciding which games to purchase for their children. Thus, gaming has become one of the largest entertainment industries in the country.
In 2018 alone, the US video game industry brought in a record-breaking $43.4 billion in revenue. The large majority of that revenue was from gaming content itself-$35.8 billion. The remainder of revenue came from a combination of hardware, VR, and gaming accessories. The survey revealed the smartphone to be the most common gaming device, with 60% of adult gamers playing on their phones. Additionally, over half of adult gamers were found to play on personal computers while 49% played with dedicated consoles.
The ESA’s survey unanimously proved that gaming has quickly risen to be one of the greatest revenue creators in America. In fact, ESA acting president Stanley Pierre-Louis believes we are in the middle of a golden age for the gaming industry. In a recent interview, Stanley says that “[Video games] are the leading form of entertainment in American culture. They enhance our interconnected experiences and relationships with one another and redefine the intersection between humans and technology.” As technology continues to grow and expand, the ESA’s numbers will likely continue to rise as the years continue. Now more than ever, gamers everywhere are seeing their hobby become normalized and accepted.
There is truly no better time to be a gamer.
