The lockdown has introduced a new generation of gamers. In fact, it is being said that there are now as many gamers as there are people who watch TV. And this means that brands now have a huge potential in reaching new customers.
Here are some key insights from the study conducted in the UK and the USA in this regard.
Interestingly, the numbers have not budged even as we enter the end (almost) of 2020 and it appears that these trends will stay for a good period. It is also being anticipated that its worth will reach $250 billion by the year 2025.
Traditionally, gaming was always linked with young males but as of Q2 2020, reports suggest 92% of females aged between 16 and 24 playing games on any device. The same also grew for 55 – 64 year-olds from 57% to 67%.
Smartphones are also contributing to the gamer’s growth. Users no longer have to purchase an expensive device. Instead, they can play just about any game on their phones. The use of smartphones for games is more notable in females – especially in the regions of North America and Europe.
Gaming on laptops has also increased by 2% since the Q4 of 2019 while their popularity among older people is also on a rise.
Chart: Globalwebindex.
In this regard, marketing experts emphasize the need to understand the audience better in order to increase engagement. They also recommend researching comprehensively into the gamer’s culture, history, and community to analyze the type of players who will be receptive to their marketing strategy.
It is also a good idea to zero in on the gamer’s motivations for playing the specific game. For example, 19% of people who played games during lockdown claimed that they do so to remain connected with friends.
Online tournaments are also tempting for gamers, especially since live sports and large events on a halt. When questioned, both females and males admit to showing equal interest (19%) in online tournaments.
As you can see, the lockdowns have proven to be a real game-changer for the gaming industry. Let’s see if the trend continues even after the world resumes its operations – post COVID-19.
Read next: Report: Smartphone Gaming Generated $19.3 Billion in Revenue during the Second Quarter Of 2020
Here are some key insights from the study conducted in the UK and the USA in this regard.
The Growth of the Industry
The gaming industry saw a sudden growth this year with usage reaching 87% from global internet users between Q4 2019 and Q2 2020. The numbers were unexpected as the same sector saw a huge decline before Q4 of 2019.Interestingly, the numbers have not budged even as we enter the end (almost) of 2020 and it appears that these trends will stay for a good period. It is also being anticipated that its worth will reach $250 billion by the year 2025.
Traditionally, gaming was always linked with young males but as of Q2 2020, reports suggest 92% of females aged between 16 and 24 playing games on any device. The same also grew for 55 – 64 year-olds from 57% to 67%.
Smartphones are also contributing to the gamer’s growth. Users no longer have to purchase an expensive device. Instead, they can play just about any game on their phones. The use of smartphones for games is more notable in females – especially in the regions of North America and Europe.
Gaming on laptops has also increased by 2% since the Q4 of 2019 while their popularity among older people is also on a rise.
Chart: Globalwebindex.
Effective Marketing for Gamers
Today, gaming is not limited to any particular age group. It has now become a diverse field and targeting a specific group is becoming a challenge for marketers.In this regard, marketing experts emphasize the need to understand the audience better in order to increase engagement. They also recommend researching comprehensively into the gamer’s culture, history, and community to analyze the type of players who will be receptive to their marketing strategy.
It is also a good idea to zero in on the gamer’s motivations for playing the specific game. For example, 19% of people who played games during lockdown claimed that they do so to remain connected with friends.
Online tournaments are also tempting for gamers, especially since live sports and large events on a halt. When questioned, both females and males admit to showing equal interest (19%) in online tournaments.
As you can see, the lockdowns have proven to be a real game-changer for the gaming industry. Let’s see if the trend continues even after the world resumes its operations – post COVID-19.
Read next: Report: Smartphone Gaming Generated $19.3 Billion in Revenue during the Second Quarter Of 2020
