Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts2020 2 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 Methodology. Message from thePresident andCEO...... TABLE OFCONTENTS Conclusion...... Who Are Canadians PlayingWith...... Esports...... How Canadians Play...... What Canadians Playby Region...... Where Canadians Play...... What Canadians Play...... Why Canadians Play...... Gaming DuringthePandemic...... Real Canadian Gamer...... 3 28 26 24 20 18 16 12 10 8 5 4 3 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 Entertainment Software AssociationofCanada President &CEO Jayson Hilchie benefits available to usthrough thepower ofplay. As we all doourbestto navigate thesedifficulttimes, we can all continue to enjoy themany positive world. health. Now more thanever, videogamesare ameaningful andpowerful outlet for Canadians andthe mainstream form ofentertainment thatsupportssocialconnectivity, asenseofwellbeing andmental using consoles. OurReal Canadian Gamerdata supportsthatCanadians view gaming asanimportant Mobile devices continue to betheprimarydevice ofplayamongadultswhilekidsandteens prefer to play and continue atrend ofgrowing digital gameacquisition by players. games. Thesenumbers are upthree percentage points and seven percentage points respectively over 2018 download withthirty-three percent ofadultgamers andforty-two percent ofteen gamers downloading full Purchasing behaviour ofgamers alsocontinues to evolve. Canadians are increasingly turningtoward digital video gamesthatare appropriate for theirchildren. six percent ofparents ofgamers (ages6to 12)findthe ESRB rating system especiallyhelpfulinchoosing children; sixtypercent ofparent gamers withteens (13 to 17)played videogameswith theirteens. Ninety- during thepandemic;sixty-ninepercent ofparents withkids(6to 12)played videogameswiththeir More thanforty percent ofparent gamers are spendingmore timeplayingvideogameswiththeirchildren eight percent ofteen gamers findingthatgamingwhilehome makes them feel better. and eighty percent ofteen gamers are playingmore, withsixty-five percent ofadultgamers andseventy- three millionCanadians playvideogamesandduringthepandemic, fifty-eight percent ofadultgamers retirees, Canadians ofallagesandprofessional backgrounds enjoy thepower ofvideogames. Twenty- interaction, creativity andmental health. From businessexecutives to service employees, from students to that gamingcan besomuchmore thananentertaining form ofplay;itisakey nexus point for social Video gameshave always played animportant role inoursociety andwiththepandemic,we are learning spread ofCOVID-19. leisure, remote work andfor theirhealth asthey supportphysical distancing health measures to stem the – Essential Facts 2020 data duringunprecedented times-Canadians are spendingmore timeathomefor This year, we atEntertainment Software AssociationofCanada are releasing ourReal Canadian Gamer ending cycle ofbadnews. more now asaway to safely connect withtheirfriends andfamily andescape whatcan seemlike anever- shift inhow we connect, buildcommunity andstay healthy. Canadians are turningto videogameseven friends andintroducing usto fantastic worlds transporting usbeyond reality. COVID-19 hasforced aglobal Even before theinternet, videogameshave played arole inentertaining people,connecting family and MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT &CEO Methodology*

15-minute surveys fielded to a representative sample of both Canadian adults and children who played any video games in the past 4 weeks. 1. Canadians adults 18 to 64 years of age 2. Kids and teens 6 to 17 years of age through representative surrogate samples (mothers of the children)

Qualified ending sample: • Adults n= 2633 • Kids (6 to 12) n= 305 • Teens (13 to 17) n= 257

Surveys were in field from May 18, 2020 to May 27, 2020 Data are weighted to Canada census targets on gender, age, income, region, and household size.

*This study was conducted by The NPD Group.

Real Canadian Gamers 4 Essential Facts 2020 Real Canadian Gamer 6 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 specific agegroups ofgamers. (13-17), andadultsoradultgamers (18-34,35-54and55-64)interchangeably whenreferring to survey). Throughout ourreport, we willusetheterms kidsorkidgamers (6-12),teens orteen gamers to females ormaleswhohave played videogameswithinthelastfour weeks (atthetimeofour acceptance amongCanadians between theages55to 65.Note, inourstudy, theterm gamerrefers There is highacceptance oftheterm gameramong13-to-17-year-old Canadians andtheleast would usetheterm. Here’s whatwe learned. gamers to findoutwhatthey thought ofthe term andifthey had to describethemselves ifthey The term gamerusuallysparksconversations inthegamingcommunity. We wanted to hear from Real Canadian Gamer 42% 58% 29% 60% gamers females consider themselves 29% of55-to-64-year-old gamers females consider themselves 42% of35-to-54-year-old gamers females consider themselves 58% of18-to-34-year-old gamers females consider themselves 60% of13-to-17-year-old Females 24% don’t like theterm 60% were indifferent 16% like theterm 20% don’t like theterm 57% were indifferent 23% like theterm 10% don’t like theterm 55% were indifferent 35% like theterm 20% don’t like theterm 50% were indifferent 30% like theterm 7 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 Total NumberofCanadians PlayingVideoGames 64% 45% 90% 82% Average Age of Canadian Gamer 61% 34 years Ages 18to 64 gamers males consider themselves 45% of55-to-64-year-old gamers males consider themselves 64% of35-to-54-year-old consider themselves gamers 82% of18-to-34-year-old males consider themselves gamers 90% of13-to-17-year-old males 23 million play videogames under theageof65 61% ofCanadian adults Age Breakdown ofCanadian Gamers Males Percentage ofCanadians PlayingVideoGames Across AllCanadian Gamers 89% Ages 6to 17 games and teens playvideo 89% ofCanadian kids 8% don’t like theterm 77% were indifferent 15% like theterm 10% don’t like theterm 61% were indifferent 29% like theterm 7% don’t like theterm 36% were indifferent 57% like theterm 6% don’t like theterm 41% were indifferent 52% like theterm 50% are male 50% are female 61% Gaming During the Pandemic 9 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 games with theirkidsduringthepandemic. Forty-four percent ofparent gamers withkids(6to 17)reported spendingmore timeplayingvideo and 60percent ofparent gamers withteens (ages13 to 17) played videogameswiththeirchildren. Sixty-nine percent ofparent gamers withkids(ages6to 12)played videogameswiththeirchildren Video gamestreaming Esports streaming Streaming includesviewing andplayingvideogames. Kids andteens are more involved inesportsandvideogamestreaming duringthepandemic. stay connected. emotionally andmentally, especiallyteens. Gaminghasalsohelpedfamily, andfriends, bondand of Canadians playingvideogamesduringthepandemicbelieve thatgaminghashelpedthem of Canadians decidedto tryplayingvideogamesfor thefirst-time duringlockdown. Themajority During thepandemic,gamers have boosted theirlevels ofplay;however, lessthantwo percent Gaming DuringthePandemic 45% 58% 36% 65% the pandemic more videogamesduring of adultsare streaming more duringthepandemic of adultsare streaming makes themfeel better home health measures while supportingstay-at- of adultsfindthatgaming of adultsare playingmore 66% 78% 80% 50% pandemic games duringthe streaming more video of kidsandteens are pandemic streaming more duringthe of kidsandteens are makes themfeel better home health measures while supportingstay-at- of teens findthatgaming of teens are playingmore Why Canadians Play 11 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 game software, contributes 40%ofallgains. grown, software, hardware, andgamercards; software, includesphysical software plusdigital full gains. Almost250kmore unitsofhardware have beensoldthisyear vs lastyear. Every category has Sales for videogameconsole hardware isup58%year-over-year, andcontributes 43% ofalldollar Canadian VideoGameMarket located indifferent partsofacityorthecountry. partners are enjoying gamingtogether andfindthatithelpsthemstay connected ifthey are Parents are findingthatgamingishelpingthemspendmore timewiththeirchildren. Families and friends whilerequired to isolate athome.Thisincreased to 70% inTeen gamers whowere surveyed. Forty-three percent ofAdult gamers saidthatvideogameshelpedthemstay connected to their improved mental health from playinggames. home improved theirmental health. Thiswas even higherinTeen gamers which65%reporting Fifty-seven percent ofAdult gamers saidthatplayingvideogameswhilerequired to remain at quarantine. during thesedifficulttimes. Canadians findthatgaminghelpsthem relaxand stay busy during experiences providing insight into how gamingisanimportant source ofjoy andentertainment When asked how gaminghelpedduringthepandemic,Canadians shared theirpersonal Why Canadians Play What Canadians Play 13 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 popular amongmalegamers withtheexception ofmalesages35to 54. Mobile gamingremains popularwithfemales across alldemographics whileconsole gamingis devices. game titlesby Canadians by agegroup. Theoverall percentage ofplayby gamers appliescross all (including thepercentage ofhours played online), aswell asthetop three mostoften played Devices mostoften played varies; we have highlighted thedevices, hours played perweek Demographic Highlights Canadians ofallagesplayvideogames–andthere are gamesfor everyone. most commonly playpuzzlegameswhilekidsandteens prefer actionandadventure games. and 30%ofCanadian adultgamers playonlinewithplayers they’ve never met. Canadian adults play gamesonlinesolo, 40%playwithothers online,20%playonlinewithother players intheroom Canadian are more likely to playfirst-person, sports,and card gamesonline;40%ofadult gamers What Canadians Play Racing andFlight Games Puzzle andWord Games of adults of adults of adults 23% 37% 11% team-based Games First-person and and t and t and t 24% 21% 18% of kid of kid of kid eens eens eens s s s Action andAdventure Games of adults of adults of adults 24% 18% 11% Fighting Games Sports Games and t and t 33% 17% and t of kid of kid 12% of kid eens eens eens s s s Strategy &Role-Playing Games(RPGs) MMPORGs (Massively multi-player online role-playing games) of adults of adults 11% 11% of adults 23% Social Games and t and t 18% 15% of kid of kid and t 15% of kid eens eens s eens s s 14 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 • • • • • Male Gamers (18-34) • • • • • Female Gamers (18-34) • • • • • Male Gamers (13-17) • • • • • Female Gamers (13-17) • • • • • Male Gamers (6-12) • • • • • Female Gamers (6-12) 63% ofplayisonline 72% ofmales (18-34)playonconsoles 71% ofmales(18-34)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 12hours 89% ofmales(18-34)playvideogames 50% ofplayisonline 63% offemales (18-34)playonconsoles 82% offemales (18-34)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 8.5hours 68% offemales (18-34) playvideogames 78% ofplayisonline 57% offemales (13-17)playonconsoles 13% ofmales(13-17)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 21 hours 95% ofmales(13-17)playvideogames 48% ofplayisonline 37% offemales (13-17)playonconsoles 47% offemales (13-17)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 9.5hours 79% offemales (13-17)playvideogames 60% ofplayisonline 53% ofmales(6-12)playonconsoles 31% ofmales(6-12)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 12hours 95% ofmales(6-12)playvideogames 56% ofplayisonline 31% offemales (6-12)playonconsoles 49% offemales (6-12)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 9hours 88% offemales (6-12)playvideogames • • • by males(18-34): Top three mostplayed title • • • by females (18-34): Top three mostplayed titles • • • by males(13-17): Top three mostplayed titles • • • by females (13-17): Top three mostplayed titles • • • by malegamers (6-12): Top three mostplayed titles • • • by female gamers (6-12): Top three mostplayed titles NBA 2K20 Auto FIFA20 /Grand Theft Call ofDuty Sims 4 Call ofDuty Mario Kart Auto Minecraft /Grand Theft Call ofDuty Fortnite Sims 4 Fortnite Mario Kart Mario Kart Fortnite Minecraft Mario Kart Minecraft Roblox 15 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 • • • • • Male Gamers (55-64) • • • • • Female Gamers (55-64) • • • • • Male Gamers (35-54) • • • • • Female Gamers (35-54) 51% ofplayisonline 36% ofmales(55-64)playonconsoles 64% ofmales(55-64)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 9hours 41% ofmalegamers (55-64)playvideogames 57% ofplayisonline 20% offemales (55-64)playonconsoles 69% offemales (55-64)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 8hours 36% offemale gamers (55-64)playvideogames 53% ofplayisonline 62% ofmales(35-54)playonconsoles 68% ofmales(35-54)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 8.5hours 68% ofmales(35-54)playvideogames 53% ofplayisonline 42% offemales (35-54)playonconsoles 81% offemales (35-54)playonmobiledevices Average hours ofplayperweek: 8hours 52% offemales (35-54)playvideogames • • • by females (55-64): Top three mostplayed titles • • • by females (55-64): Top three mostplayed titles • • • • by males(35-54): Top three mostplayed titles • • • by females (35-54): Top three mostplayed titles Sudoku Video Poker Solitaire Scrabble Candy Crush Solitaire Madden20 /MarioKart NHL20 Call ofDuty Sudoku/ Scrabble Candy Crush Solitaire Where Canadians Play 17 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 Atlantic Canada Quebec Ontario Manitoba Saskatchewan Alberta play amongthosewhoplay. Canada is38.According to ourresearch, Saskatchewanites playthemostandaverage 10hours of Canadians across thecountry enjoy thepower ofplay. Theaverage ageofadultgamers (18-64)in Where Canadians Play 58% 60% 68% 64% 61% 57% 63% play videogames Saskatchewan gamers in 68% ofadult play videogames gamers inAlberta 61% ofadult video games Columbia play gamers inBritish 64% ofadult video games Canada play gamers inAtlantic 60% ofadult play videogames gamers inQuebec 57% ofadult play videogames gamers inOntario 63% ofadult video games Manitoba play gamers in 58% ofadult Saskatchewan hasthehighestrate ofplayinCanada is 36 gamers inSK age ofadult Average Alberta is39 gamers in age ofadult Average is 38 gamers inBC age ofadult Average is 40 Atlantic Canada adult gamers in Average ageof Quebec is37 adult gamers in Average ageof Ontario is37 adult gamers in Average ageof Manitoba is38 adult gamers in Average ageof hours perweek an average of10 Saskatchewan play Gamers in 9 hours perweek play anaverage of Gamers inAlberta per week average of9hours Columbia playan Gamers inBritish per week average of9hours Canada playan Gamers inAtlantic 8 hours perweek play anaverage of Gamers inQuebec 9 hours perweek play anaverage of Gamers inOntario per week average of9hours Manitoba playan Gamers in 18 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 • • • Alberta • • • British Columbia 64) inCanada is38. the mostplayed by Canadians are similaracross thecountry. Theaverage ageofadult gamers (18- The mostpopulargenre across Canada are puzzleandword games.The typesofgameswhichare What Canadians Playby Region Western Canada Quebec Ontario by kidsandteens isshared for thefollowing regions: Ontario, Quebec,andWestern Canada. this sectionwas calculated by region; average age,percentage ofplayandaverage hours played Kids andteens across Canada are playingvideogames.Dueto asmallsamplesize, ourdata for Kids andTeens 24% ofgamers inAlberta playAction andAdventure Games 25% ofgamers inAlberta playFirst-person andTeam-based Games 40% ofgamers inAlberta playPuzzleandWord Games 26% ofgamers inBritishColumbia playStrategy andRole-Playing Games 28% ofgamers in BritishColumbia playAction andAdventure Games 35% ofgamers in BritishColumbia playPuzzleandWord Games 85% 89% 90% video games Canada play teens inWestern play videogames teens in Ontario play videogames teens inQuebec 85% ofkidsand 90% 89% of kidsand of kidsand Quebec is12 teen gamers in of kid-and- Average age Ontario is12 teen gamers in of kid-and- Average age Canada is12 in Western teen gamers of kid-and- Average age hours perweek. an average of14.5 video gamesfor in Quebecplay Kids andteens hours perweek. an average of13.5 video gamesfor in Ontario play Kids andteens hours perweek. for anaverage of12 play videogames Western Canada Kids andteens in 19 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 obtain ameaningful samplesize. age, gender, region, andhouseholdsize. Thethree territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut) are not currently includedasthecost isprohibitive to given populationsize (lessthan7%percent ofCanada). TheNPDGroup surveys 10provinces andusesStatistics Canada data to weight theresults by Data note: TheNPDGroup analyzes Atlantic provinces asawhole(New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island,Nova Scotia andNewfoundland and Labrador) • • • Atlantic Canada • • • Quebec • • • Ontario • • • Saskatchewan andManitoba 21% ofgamers inAtlantic Canada playFirst-person andTeam-based Games 25% ofgamers inAtlantic Canada play Action andAdventure Games 28% ofgamers inAtlantic Canada play PuzzleandWord Games 22% ofgamers inQuebecplayAction andAdventure Games 25% ofgamers inQuebecplayStrategy andRole-Playing Games 30% ofgamers inQuebecplayPuzzleandWord Games 24% ofgamers inOntario playAction andAdventure Games 25% ofgamers inOntario Gamers playFirst-person andTeam-based Games 41% ofgamers inOntario playPuzzleandWord Games Games 24% ofgamers inSaskatchewan andgamers inManitoba playFirst-person andteam-based 25% ofgamers inSaskatchewan andgamers inManitoba playAction andAdventure Games 37% ofgamers inSaskatchewan andgamers inManitoba playPuzzleandWord Games How Canadians Play 21 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 whom agameismostappropriate. for Teen, Mfor Mature, andAO for Adults Only. Theratings recommend aparticularagegroup for by thefollowing symbols: EC for Early Childhood,Efor Everyone, E10+for everyone 10andolder, T ESRB ratings includesixcategories whichare represented onthefront ofeach gamebox ordigitally helpful. consuming invideogames. Parents ofyounger gamers continue to findthe rating system most is apowerful tool for parents to stay engagedandaware ofthetypecontent theirchildren are parents are selectinggamesthey are familiar withfor theirchildren. Inany case, therating system ESRB ratings. We found thatawareness ofESRB rating istrending downward; thismaymean that As more families are playingtogether, we asked parents aboutwhether ornot they are usingthe ESRB VideoGameRatings means increased communication through digital means for everyday activitiesincludingplay. This isatrend whichalignswithwhatishappeningglobally, we are livinginadigital world which More Canadians are downloading digital copies ofgamesinstead ofpurchasing physical copies. others. First-person andTeam-based games,actionandsportgamesare more likely to played with game playhasincreased for Canadians ages18to 34.Canadian gamers are playingmore. While theoverall incidence ofgamingdecreased from 64%in2018 to 61% in2020, theincidence of How Canadians Play (down 2percentage aware oftheratings confirmed they are points from 2018) of adultgamers 78% playing online of adultsare 70% appropriate gamesfor in buyingandrenting of parents of gamers system very helpful find the rating their children playing online of adultsare 96% 44% solo playing offline the ratings accurately of parents ofgamers, of adultsare ages 6to 17,believe describe therated game’s content 58% 86% playing offline of adultsare 48% solo content for their child of parents ofgamers, their views aboutthe ages 6to 17,feel the appropriateness of accurately reflects rating onagame 82% 22 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 are evaluated asonecohort for thisanalysis. Note, our research found thatdevice usagediffers between adults, kidsandteens. Kidsand teens console ownership among females andCanadians ages35 andup. device ownership appears to have peaked. We sawaslight decrease incomputer andgamer gaming became more popularamongyounger malesdespite thisdeclineinownership. Mobile Overall console ownership declined over thepasttwo years; however, we found thatconsole Devices check. Parents ofkidgamers aged6to 12checktheratings mostoften. Sometimes, with42% reporting thatthey always checkand36%reporting thatthey sometimes On average, 78% ofparents ofgamers (ages6to 17)checktherating onagameAlways or and there are tools available to helpthemprotect theirinformation in-game. concern, particularlyparents ofyounger children; Canadians are concerned abouttheirprivacy We alsolearned thatthesharingofpersonal information anduserlocation in-gameisthetop of Canadian adultgamers report owning andusing mobile devices for video game play(remains the same as2018) 94% 53% 29% play (1%lessthanin2018) of Canadian adultgamers computers for videogame report owning andusing of parents ofkidgamers (6to 12) always checkESRB video (13 to 17)always checkESRB of parents ofteen gamers 88% video gameratings game ratings play (4%lessthanin2018) of Canadian adultgamers report owning andusing consoles for videogame 56% 23 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 Kids andTeens Mobile devices continue to bethemostpopular gamingdevice usedamongadults. Adults often usemobiledevices to of adultgamers mostoften use mobiledevices to play (6 percentage points less (1 percentage over 2018) of kidsandteens most play videogames than in2018) video games 35% 48% video games(2percentage of adultgamers mostoften (3 percentage points more points lessthanin2018) often usecomputers to of kidsandteens most use computers to play play videogames than in2018) 20% 23% video games (11 percentage of adultgamers mostoften use consoles to playvideo often useconsoles to play points more thanin2018) points more thanin2018) of kidsandteens most games (4percentage 45% 29% 24 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 • • • • • • Kids &Teens • • • • • • Adults on mobiledevices. (Devices: VirtualReality, Console, Mobile,Computer). Kids andteens are more likely to playusingmultipledevices whileadultsare more likely to onlyplay Cross-platform Play 4% ofkidsandteens playonallfour devices 22% ofkidsandteens playonany three devices 39% ofkidsandtens playonany two devices 12% ofkidsandteens playonmobileonly 17% ofkidsandteens playonconsole only 6% ofkidsandteens playoncomputer only 4% ofadultsplayonallfour devices 21% ofadultsplayonany three devices 34% ofadultsplayonany two devices 20% ofadultsplayonmobileonly 11% ofadultsplayonconsole only 9% ofadultsplayoncomputer only 60% multiple devices of Canadians playon Esports 26 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 game streaming, specifically 41% ofadultsand46%kids teens. More Canadians are participatinginesportsasviewers (spectators); 40% ofgamers participate in Kids andTeens (Gamers) Adults (Gamers) twelve months atthetimeourstudywent to fieldinMay2020). We found that35%ofadultsand29%kidsteens engagedinesports2019/2020 (thepast Canadians are engagingintheesportsspace. and publishers oftheintellectual property whichunderlyesports.Thisyear, we explored how enthusiasts playingorwatching esportsworldwide each year. ESAC members includetheowners Esports inCanada, andglobally, isgrowing exponentially, withhundreds ofmillionsesports Esports tournament online tournament online watched esports of adultgamers teens watched of kidsand an esports 20% 26% in gamestreaming of adultsengage as aviewer (spectator) 31% teens purchased of adultgamers esports-related esports-related digital content digital content of kidsand purchased 9% 7% in gamestreaming of adultsengage as aplayer 15% purchased esports- purchased esports- of kidsandteens of adultgamers related physical related physical merchandise merchandise 8% 7% of kidsandteens engage ingame streaming asa 22% player teens personally of adultgamers competed in competed in tournament tournament of kidsand an esports an esports personally 6% 8% viewer (spectator) of kidsandteens engage ingame streaming asa 30% of kidsandteens esports event in of adultgamers tournament in attended an an esports attended person person 3% 6% Who Are Canadians Playing Video Games With 28 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 that more Canadian gamers playsolo(74%) while55%ofgamers playwithothers. Canadians are playingvideogamesto socialize, entertain andstay connected. Ourstudyfound Who Are Canadians Playing VideoGamesWith? of adultgamers play of adultgamers play video gameswith video gameswith their parents their friends Adult Gamers (whoplaywithothers) 15% 72% of adultgamers play with theirspouses/ video gameswith play videogames their siblingsand of adultgamers 34% partners cousins 35% Conclusion 30 Real Canadian Gamer Essential Facts 2020 and connectedthroughout thepandemic. Many alsoidentifiedvideogamesasameansofhelpingfamilyandfriendsstaybonded time connecting. are alsohelpingparents findcommonground withtheirkidswhilehelpingthemspend them feel better emotionally and mentally while following stay-at-home measures. Games Not onlyare Canadiansplayingmore videogames,butamajorityofthemsayitishelping consumers playedinCanada. during thepandemic-ithassignificantlyboostedamountthatexistingvideogame less than2%ofAdultCanadians(18to64)decidingtakeupacontroller forthefirsttime Although thepandemichasnotresulted insubstantialnewvideogameconsumers-with Conclusion ESAC PARTNERS

Entertainment Software Association (United States) THEESA.COM • @THEESA ESA offers a wide range of services to interactive entertainment software companies in the US, including: conducting business and consumer research; providing legal and policy analysis and advocacy on US First Amendment, intellectual property, and technology/e-commerce issues; managing a global content protection program; owning and operating E3; and representing interests before US federal and state governments.

Entertainment Software Ratings Board ESRB.ORG • @ESRBRATINGS The ESRB is a non-profit, self-regulatory body that assigns age and content ratings for video games and mobile apps so parents can make informed choices. It also enforces advertising guidelines adopted by the video game industry and helps companies implement responsible online and mobile privacy practices under its Privacy Certified program.

The NPD Group NPDGROUP.ca • @NPDCANADA NPD offers data, industry expertise, and prescriptive analytics to help our clients grow their businesses in a changing world. Over 2,000 companies worldwide rely on us to help them measure, predict, and improve performance across all channels, including brick-and-mortar, e-commerce, and B2B. We have services in 19 countries worldwide, with operations spanning the Americas, Europe, and APAC. Practice areas include apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty, books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories, food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, juvenile products, media entertainment, mobile, office supplies, retail, sports, toys, and video games.

Real Canadian Gamers 31 Essential Facts 2020 ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE ASSOCIATION OF CANADA

theESA.Ca • @ESACanada ESAC is the national voice of the video game industry in Canada. We work for our members – Activision Blizzard, Glu, EA, Gameloft, Ubisoft, Kabam, Other Ocean Interactive, Ludia, , , Sony Interactive Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Solutions 2 Go, WB Games, Square Enix, Take 2 Interactive, Codename Entertainment, Certain Affinity and NetEase games – to ensure legal, regulatory and public affairs environments are favourable to long-term business development.

To learn more, visit theESA.Ca, email us at [email protected]

@ESACanada @ESACanada ESACanada

Real Canadian Gamers 32 Essential Facts 2020