Number of U.S. Video Gamers Hits 227 Million, and Most Say They’ve Played More During COVID: ESA Study
Stay-at-home orders during the COVID pandemic have been a boon to the games biz — and may have altered consumer behavior for years to come.
About 55% of U.S. video gamers say they have played more during the pandemic, and 90% say they are likely to continue playing even after social distancing is no longer required. That’s according to the annual report released Tuesday by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the trade group that reps game publishers, developers and console makers.
There are now a total 226.6 million video game players in the U.S. of all ages, growing nearly 6% from 214.4 million in 2020, according to the ESA. That’s on the heels of the video-game audience swelling about 30% last year, up from 164 million in 2019.
Overall, the ESA’s “2021 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry” study indicates that not only are more people playing video games than ever before but also that the gaming audience has grown more diverse and reflective of American society.
