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[JLB]

By mid-2020, the number of people playing video games had grown to 3.1 billion, according to DFC Intelligence. Considering that in July the total population of the Earth exceeded 7.8 billion, just under 40% are familiar with games.

Analysts point out that almost half of the accounted three billion are those who play only on smartphones or mobile devices. This segment is also ahead of all others in terms of growth.
However, only about 250 million people are active console users who regularly buy new games for them. Although they represent only 8% of the total number of gamers, this is the group with the highest revenue per person.
1.5 billion are playing on PC – 48% of all gamers. However, this number includes not only regular users but also those who also enjoy video games on consoles and mobile platforms.
More than half of the world’s gamers live in Asia – there are 1.42 billion players there. Moreover, this region also accounts for 53% of people who play only on smartphones. The top four also include Europe (668 million), Latin America (383 million) and North America (261 million).

https://nintendosmash.com/over-three-billion-people-worldwide-now-play-video-games-study-reports/

 

[hyperbertha]

5 billion more people to milk?

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Bringing China into the fold will benefit industry quiet a lot.

Though ww3 (economic) seems more probable at this point.

 

[Max_Po]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaah

 

[JLB]

Bringing China into the fold will benefit industry quiet a lot.

Though ww3 (economic) seems more probable at this point.

World will keep spinning.
And yeah, definitely China will help to make the market quite bigger thus more opportunities for creators.

 

[Kimahri]

I think these statistics are generally meaningless. So and so many people are gamers, half of them on mobile. Ok, so what are they actually playing then? Wasting your time on a ftp candy crush successor isn't gaming in my eyes. It's wasting time.

 

[Team Andromeda]

Dreamcast had more LOL

 

[mcz117chief]

And we here can all say that we were gaming before it was cool

 

[vkbest]

The most play gacha mobile and PC games

 

[Humdinger]

Just for curiosity's sake, I did the math. Active console users who regularly buy new games (i.e., people like us) comprise 3% of the world's population.

However, only about 250 million people are active console users who regularly buy new games for them.

 

[bitbydeath]

That’s likely just including everyone who has a mobile phone whether they play or not.

 

[JLB]

Just for curiosity's sake, I did the math. Active console users who regularly buy new games (i.e., people like us) comprise 3% of the world's population.

Which is ironic, since typically our cohort considers itself as “the gamers” although we represent a meaningless proportion of them.

 

[Tschumi]

 

[Keihart]

Then there is a lot of money moving in trash/preadatory games that are not these high budget games we get as console exclusives or multiplats like GTA. No wonder publishers went crazy over the mobile and moba and GiS markets. Then again, good single player games seem to be way more reliable in return, making a hit in mobile/moba and even GiS it's way more of a strike of luck than making a succesfull high budget single player game, these rarely underperform nowdays, i mean, even hitman got 2 sequels and Yakuza keep getting sequels.

 

[Bryank75]

Mobile doesn't count...

Most of those PC users are only able to run minesweeper.

 

[Humdinger]

Which is ironic, since typically our cohort considers itself as “the gamers” although we represent a meaningless proportion of them.

That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is, we are the "whales" -- the ones who provide a disproportionately large share of the revenue for these companies. We buy new games regularly, and more games. So even though we're 8% of the overall population of "people who play games," we are a very important one, to gaming companies.

 

[JLB]

That's one way to look at it. Another way to look at it is, we are the "whales" -- the ones who provide a disproportionately large share of the revenue for these companies. We buy new games regularly, and more games. So even though we're 8% of the overall population of "people who play games," we are a very important one, to gaming companies.

kind of agree on the sentiment, but reality is pointing somewhere else. I think its no aleatory that epic attacks mobile platforms first. Thats where the big money is. Comparatively speaking, high end pc / console gamers are a tiny minority, although one that expends a lot per member.

 

[JLB]

Then there is a lot of money moving in trash/preadatory games that are not these high budget games we get as console exclusives or multiplats like GTA. No wonder publishers went crazy over the mobile and moba and GiS markets. Then again, good single player games seem to be way more reliable in return, making a hit in mobile/moba and even GiS it's way more of a strike of luck than making a succesfull high budget single player game, these rarely underperform nowdays, i mean, even hitman got 2 sequels and Yakuza keep getting sequels.

I love gta, but theres not a lot of games that perfectly fits for the “predatory” category like gta online.

 

[Keihart]

I love gta, but theres not a lot of games that perfectly fits for the “predatory” category like gta online.

Sure, i was referencing the single player portion as it launched without multiplayer, was a huge success and had a really high budget and production values.

 

[SpartanN92]

3 Billion nerds

 

[Chiggs]

PC GAMING *CLAPCLAP* *CLAPCLAPCLAP*

 

[Humdinger]

kind of agree on the sentiment, but reality is pointing somewhere else. I think its no aleatory that epic attacks mobile platforms first. Thats where the big money is. Comparatively speaking, high end pc / console gamers are a tiny minority, although one that expends a lot per member.

Oh sure, there's lots of money to potentially be made in the mobile/cellphone gaming market. I believe nearly 100% of young people own a cellphone, as do about 80% of middle-aged folks.

To clarify, I was just talking about console gaming, not PC (you mentioned Epic). But even on console, you can see it. That's where MS is headed with Gamepass and Play Anywhere. They want a piece of that casual cellphone market. Gaming companies have always chased the casual/mainstream market -- whether via games, services, peripherals, or (now) devices.

My only point is that the 8% figure is misleading. It makes it sound like we are of little importance, next to the vast casual/mobile market. I don't think that's true. I think because we spend so much more than the casual players, we are more important to the console manufacturers than the small percentage would suggest.

 

[Knightime_X]

Eventually more than 75% will be gamers.
Older generations just don't want anything to do with gaming.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Is there any kind of minimum qualification to be considered a gamer?

If my niece shows my mom a jumping game on her tablet and mom pokes the screen for 5 minutes, does she count?

Way back when cell phones were new, my phone had a Gameboy looking version of Nibbler (I think they called it Snakes). I played it for kicks one night. So in 2005, I would be a cell phone gamer?

 

[Elektro Demon]

I don't count people who play Fortnite/PUBG only. I mean, can you really call these people gamers?
Also mobile. Yeah, no.

 

[JLB]

I don't count people who play Fortnite/PUBG only. I mean, can you really call these people gamers?
Also mobile. Yeah, no.

Of course, why not?

 

[JLB]

Oh sure, there's lots of money to potentially be made in the mobile/cellphone gaming market. I believe nearly 100% of young people own a cellphone, as do about 80% of middle-aged folks.

To clarify, I was just talking about console gaming, not PC (you mentioned Epic). But even on console, you can see it. That's where MS is headed with Gamepass and Play Anywhere. They want a piece of that casual cellphone market. Gaming companies have always chased the casual/mainstream market -- whether via games, services, peripherals, or (now) devices.

My only point is that the 8% figure is misleading. It makes it sound like we are of little importance, next to the vast casual/mobile market. I don't think that's true. I think because we spend so much more than the casual players, we are more important to the console manufacturers than the small percentage would suggest.

Of course console gamers are impora t for console manufacturers. They are the 100%, sure.
But in the grand scheme of things, console gamers are kind of irrelevant for the gaming market as a whole.

 

[BlackM1st]

World will keep spinning.
And yeah, definitely China will help to make the market quite bigger thus more opportunities for creators.

I'm ok with dat as Asians do know their audience and listen to it. More waifus, ban sjw. Ahhhhhh... Gaming, just like I remember it. But everything has a price, and Asian devs love to charge extra or make as play in casino to unlock anything worthy. Unfortunately western devs do the same , but with a sjw spin. So yeah, go waifus!

 

[Mraggoth]

Is there any kind of minimum qualification to be considered a gamer?

If my niece shows my mom a jumping game on her tablet and mom pokes the screen for 5 minutes, does she count?

Way back when cell phones were new, my phone had a Gameboy looking version of Nibbler (I think they called it Snakes). I played it for kicks one night. So in 2005, I would be a cell phone gamer?

I would say installing a phone game and playing it once wouldn't make you a gamer. I think to be considered a textbook "gamer" would mean you dedicate some portion of your time to video games as a hobby. One thing I would argue is that a mobile game falls under the umbrella of a "video game" so if we're talking about gaming as a whole we can't exclude mobile games no matter how boring, grindy, pointless, low effort, stupid, or cash draining it is.

 

[Mraggoth]

I would say installing a phone game and playing it once wouldn't make you a gamer. I think to be considered a textbook "gamer" would mean you dedicate some portion of your time to video games as a hobby. One thing I would argue is that a mobile game falls under the umbrella of a "video game" so if we're talking about gaming as a whole we can't exclude mobile games no matter how boring, grindy, pointless, low effort, stupid, or cash draining it is.

Btw I haven't used this site in years but is there a way to edit my post? I can't figure it out.

 

[hard_boiled]

Just for curiosity's sake, I did the math. Active console users who regularly buy new games (i.e., people like us) comprise 3% of the world's population.

We are L33T

 

[carloseduardocd]

1 billion in ipad and iphone, according to protocol

 

[Humdinger]

Of course console gamers are impora t for console manufacturers. They are the 100%, sure.
But in the grand scheme of things, console gamers are kind of irrelevant for the gaming market as a whole.

Well, the feeling is mutual.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Mobile gaming has emerged

 

[ReBurn]

Mobile gaming has emerged

It's over for consoles.

 

[Tazzu]

As credible as 50% of gamers being female.

 

[iHaunter]

I want to see what % of this is Mobile games. Which I personally don't count. People could install a bullshit game by accident and never play it, does that still count? How much game time is required for it to be considered in this study? Just opening the app? Short-sided and pointless article.

 

[Macapala]

 

[Humdinger]

Btw I haven't used this site in years but is there a way to edit my post? I can't figure it out.

There should be an edit button available below the post. If not, it's because you're a "neo member," and that ability will unlock once you've got a certain number of posts.