2019 ESSENTIAL FACTS About the Computer and Video Game Industry Foreword Table of Contents 2018 was a record-breaking year for our industry, with total video game sales exceeding $43.4 billion. Over 164 million adults in the United States play video games, and three-quarters of all Americans have at least one gamer in their Foreword 3 household. It’s now more important than ever to understand who America’s video At-A-Glance 5 game players really are and what’s driving them. Average Gamer 6 That’s why I’m thrilled to share the 2019 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry. For the first time, we at the Entertainment Software Social & Lifestyle 9 Association have taken a comprehensive look at the individual Americans who enjoy video games and their lifestyles in order to better understand their profiles Parents of Gamers 10 and interests. Households with Children 13 The resulting data speaks for itself. Video game players represent a diverse cross- Who Plays 15 section of the American population spanning every age, gender, and ethnicity. They live healthy lives, are civically engaged, and are socially active. More than Purchasing 20 three-quarters report that video games provide them with mental stimulation (79%) as well as relaxation and stress relief (78%). The role of video games in the ESA Partners 22 American family is also changing: nearly three-quarters (74%) of parents believe video games can be educational for their children, and more than half (57%) enjoy ESA Members 23 playing games with their child at least weekly. The 2019 Essential Facts simply illustrates what we in the industry already know The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) released to be true: we are living in the golden age of video games, and video game players 2019 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game are thriving. Industry in May, 2019. Ipsos conducted the annual research for the ESA. The study is the most in-depth and – Stan Pierre-Louis, Acting CEO & President, Entertainment Software Association targeted survey of its kind, gathering data from more than 4,000 Americans about their video game playing habits and attitudes. The 2019 Essential Facts also includes data provided by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and The NPD Group. 2019 ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA 3 The average age of a gamer is 65% years of American adults old play video games 33 At-A-Glance 90% 59% of parents pay attention to of gamers are certain the games their child plays they will vote in the next presidential election of Americans have at least 75% one gamer in their household Gamers are more likely to Gamers are have a creative hobby 46% (drawing, singing, writing, etc.) female 56% 49% play a musical instrument 32% 54% 27% male 2019 Gamers Average Americans 2019 ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 4 5 Average Gamer 46% 54% of American of gamers of gamers adults play are female are male video games 65% Average age Average age for women for men The most common devices used for video game play 34 32 among adult gamers 60% 52% 49% • Overall average age of gamers is 33 Smartphone Personal Dedicated game • They have been playing for 14 years computer console on average Most popular game genres 71% 53% 47% Casual Action Shooter Gamers feel that video game play has a positive impact on their lives 52% of gamers are college 79% 78% educated of gamers say of gamers say games games provide provide relaxation and mental stimulation stress relief 2019 2019 ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 6 7 When it comes to adult gamers play with others Social & Lifestyle 63% GAMERS AS COMPARED TO AVERAGE AMERICANS Gamers play throughout the day Gamers get Adult gamers spend the same amount of 52% 31% sleep at night 4.8 3.5 after work while waiting for appointments hours a week hours a week played with played with others online others in person 27% 16% during break at during a 6.8hrs work/school commute 7hrs Gamers are just as likely to Take camping/hiking trips Vacation internationally Exercise trips trips 2.7per year .8 per year 4.1 hrs/wk trips trips 2.5 per year .7 per year 3.9 hrs/wk Gamers are Gamers are more likely to civically engaged have a creative hobby play a musical % (drawing, singing, writing, etc.) instrument 59 56% 32% are certain they will vote in the next 49% 27% presidential election meditate regularly be vegetarian POLITICAL AFFILIATIONS 37% Democrat 32% 17% 33% Republican 27% 13% Independents 2019 18% 2019 12% Other Gamers Average Americans ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 8 9 Among parents of gamers Parents of Gamers 57% of parents play games with of parents of them are their child at least weekly are aware of confident that 87% ESRB ratings 98% ratings are accurate of parents of parents pay attention regularly use % % to the games % the ESRB 74 90 their child 77 ratings of parents believe video plays games are educational Parents limit the amount of time spent on the following activities 49% 40% 38% 34% 34% 26% 23% 20% Playing Browsing the Streaming Participating Watching Watching Watching Going Computer internet TV Shows in social media TV (Live) TV TV to the & Video (Pre-recorded) (On-Demand) Movies Games ESRB RATING DATA Of the 2,768 physical and downloadable console games assigned ratings by the ESRB in 2018: 42% 19% 30% 9% received received received received 2019 2019 ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 10 11 70% Households with Children of families have a child who plays video games of Americans have at least 75% one gamer in their household When it comes to households, 40% 18-35 21% of gamers are under 18 21% 18% 50+ 36-49 of parents require of the most frequent permission purchasers of console, PC, 87% for new game 91% and mobile games in gamer purchases households are adults Average age of most frequent game purchasers for PC Smartphone Console 38 37 33 2019 2019 ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 12 13 Millennial Gamers (18-34) Male Millennial Gamers 69% 83% 66% AGES: 18-34 of male Millennial of male Millennial of male Millennial FAVORITE GENRES: gamers most often gamers most often gamers prefer to Action, Shooters & Sports Games play games on their play Action games play with friends game console FAVORITE GAMES: God of War, Madden NFL and FAVORITE GAMES: Fortnite 61% 60% 59% Racing games Sport games First Person Shooters (e.g., Need for Speed, (e.g., Call of Duty, Mario Kart) Battlefield) of male Millennial gamers have a creative hobby 59% (drawing, painting, singing, writing) outside of video game play Millennial Gamers (18-34) 69% 76% 45% of female Millennial of female Millennial of female Millennial gamers most often gamers most often gamers prefer to Female Millennial play games on their play Casual games play with friends Gamers Smartphone FAVORITE GAMES: AGES: 18-34 FAVORITE GENRES: 49% 44% 42% Racing games Puzzle games Party games Casual & Action Games (e.g., Need for Speed, (e.g., Tetris) (e.g., Super Mario Party, Mario Kart) Go Vacation) FAVORITE GAMES: 2019 2019 Candy Crush, Assassin’s Creed, of female Millennial gamers have a creative hobby Tomb Raider 67% (drawing, painting, singing, writing) outside of video game play ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 14 15 Gen X Gamers (35-54) Female Gen X % % % Gamers 70 81 48 of female Gen X of female Gen X of female Gen X AGES: 35-54 gamers most often gamers most often gamers prefer to play games on their play Casual games play alone FAVORITE GENRES: Smartphone Casual Games, including Puzzle and Classic Arcades FAVORITE GAMES: FAVORITE GAMES: 55% 48% 34% Tetris & Pac-Man Puzzle games Card/Casino Classic Arcade (e.g., Tetris) games games believe video games believe they provide 62% can be educational 68% mental stimulation Gen X Gamers (35-54) 62% 70% 40% of male Gen X gamers of male Gen X of male Gen X most often play games gamers most often gamers prefer to Male Gen X on their Smartphone play Casual games play with friends Gamers FAVORITE GAMES: AGES: 35-54 55% 52% 43% Racing games Sports First Person Shooters FAVORITE GENRES: (e.g., Need for Speed, games (e.g., Call of Duty, Sports, Racing & Shooters Mario Kart) Battlefield) 2019 FAVORITE GAMES: 2019 believe video games believe they provide Forza, NBA 2K, Call of Duty 62% can be educational 68% mental stimulation ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA ESA 16 17 Boomer Gamers (55-64) Male Boomer Gamers 66% 78% 65% AGES: 55-64 of male Boomer gamers of male Boomer of male Boomer most often play games gamers most often gamers prefer to FAVORITE GENRES: on their PC play Casual games play alone Card, Puzzle and Virtual Board Games FAVORITE GAMES: FAVORITE GAMES: Solitaire & Scrabble 58% 35% 28% Card/Casino Puzzle games Virtual Board games games (e.g., Tetris) (e.g., Scrabble) 25% of Male Boomers have been video game players for 25+ years Boomer Gamers (55-64) 58% 77% 58% of female Boomer of female Boomer of female Boomer gamers most often gamers most often gamers prefer to play games on their play Casual games play alone Smartphone FAVORITE GAMES: Female Boomer 59% 45% 27% Card/Casino Puzzle games Virtual Board games Gamers games (e.g., Tetris) (e.g., Scrabble) AGES: 55-64 2019 2019 FAVORITE GENRES: 22% of Female Boomers have been video game players for 25+ years Card, Puzzle & Virtual Board Games ESSENTIAL FACTS FACTS ESSENTIAL FAVORITE GAMES: FACTS ESSENTIAL ESA Mahjong & Monopoly ESA 18 19 Purchasing Content 17% Best Selling Video Game Super Genres Physical format sales $35B 26.9% 11.3% 7.9% 5.8% 4.6% $25B $30B Action Role Play Adventure Racing All Other 83% Digital 2016 2017 2018 format sales 20.9% 11.1% 7.8% 3.7% Shooter Sport Fighting Strategy $35.8B + $5.1B + $2.4B = $43.4 Top 5 influences for purchase Gamers say the following Content Hardware Acc & VR TOTAL are useful when deciding on a purchase 66% price Top 20 Best-Selling Video Games of 2018 by Units Sold 39% Rank Title ESRB YouTube videos 1 Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII Mature (M) quality of 2 Red Dead Redemption II Mature (M) 63% graphics 3 NBA 2K19 Everyone (E) % 4 Madden NFL 19 Everyone (E) 30 User reviews from 5 Grand Theft Auto V Mature (M) interesting communities or story/premise 6 Super Smash Bros.