NPD: 67% of Americans play games (90% mobile, 52% PC, 43% console), average 12 hours per week

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NPD: 67% of Americans play games (90% mobile, 52% PC, 43% console), average 12 hours per week

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Highlights:
  • 67% of Americans age 2 and up play games. This is a total of 211.2 million game playing Americans.
  • 90% play on mobile, 52% on PC, and 43% on console. These are percentages of the 67% of Americans playing games, not of the total US population.
  • To be clear, PC includes stuff like Facebook or browser gaming.
  • Handhelds are down to 9%, but I think NPD counts the Switch as a console, so I'm not sure how much longer that stat will be relevant.
  • 59% of gamers play on both mobile and (PC and/or console).
  • 41% of gamers play on only one device type (mobile, console, or PC).
  • For people who play games, it tends to take up 16% of their leisure time, which turns out to 12 hours a week on average.
  • For comparison, internet browsing is 18%, listening to music is 15%, and social media is 13%.
  • Active gamers (the group studied) were counted as anyone who played games within the month of June 2018, were age 2 or higher, and had access to one of the devices mentioned (mobile, PC, or console).
Source: https://www.npd.com/wps/portal/npd/...-across-multiple-platforms--according-to-npd/

Notes from NPD:

Mobile includes tablets
Switch is a Console
The % are of the 211m gamers
PC Gaming includes anything played on the PC.
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The PC numbers surprise me actually. I know most people have a computing device but a lot have people have switched to tablets. Does the survey count tablets as mobile?
The PC numbers surprise me actually. I know most people have a computing device but a lot have people have switched to tablets. Does the survey count tablets as mobile?
I would assume that mobile includes tablets.
So about 31% of Americans play console games then? That seems extraordinarily high.

FliX

Master of the Reality Stone
I have a tough time believing that... Going by my (techy) office there are only a small hand full of console/PC gamers.
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I have a tough time believing that... Going by my (techy) office there are only a small hand full of gamers.
You'd be surprised when they pull out their smartphones. No one would not have one in this day and age. It's a necessity at work.
Will only keep growing for here.
  • 90% play on mobile, 54% on PC, and 46% on console.
  • Handhelds are down to 9%, but I think NPD counts the Switch as a console, so I'm not sure how much longer that stat will be relevant.

This sounds really suspect. Also are handhelds counted in that console figure, including and beyond SW?
This sounds really suspect. Also are handhelds counted in that console figure, including and beyond SW?
I'm not quite sure what you're trying to ask. Basically the question would be if you played a 3DS, Vita, DS, or other such handheld (pre-Switch) in June 2018, which would be a much lower number than handhelds once were.

FliX

Master of the Reality Stone
You'd be surprised when they pull out their smartphones. No one would not have one in this day and age. It's a necessity at work.
Well a lot of the people in my office are younger than me early-mid twenties, and they all say they no longer play video games... They might play candy crush or whatever else their phone gives them, but I doubt they play pc or console games.
Mobile includes tablets
Switch is a Console
The % are of the 211m gamers
One office versus 5k sample survey? And firing up Candy Crush while in line somewhere or on the train counts as being a gamer. It's someone who has played a video game in the period.
Handhelds are down to 9%, but I think NPD counts the Switch as a console, so I'm not sure how much longer that stat will be relevant.
It's not a handheld anyway. It's a hybrid console.

Hopefully new actual handhelds will still exist sometime down the line.

NPD: 67% of Americans play games (90% mobile, 52% PC, 43% console)
90% play on mobile, 54% on PC, and 46% on console.
Which is it?
Well a lot of the people in my office are younger than me early-mid twenties, and they all say they no longer play video games...
Go around and ask them if they've played any game like things on their phones in the last couple months instead of "video games", which some people are going to think of as console things.
I have a tough time believing that... Going by my (techy) office there are only a small hand full of console/PC gamers.
How many might play Overwatch or WoW on the weekends and just not talk about it at work? There's still a stigma around gaming in a lot of places.
The one in the title. I transcribed it incorrectly originally, and fixed it in the title, but forgot to in the list.

FliX

Master of the Reality Stone
How many might play Overwatch or WoW on the weekends and just not talk about it at work? There's still a stigma around gaming in a lot of places.
When I tell them giddy as a teenager that I am going out to buy Spider-Man and play it all weekend and they tell me they no longer play video games, I have no reason to doubt them.

It's increasing all the time, duh..

FliX

Master of the Reality Stone
Go around and ask them if they've played any game like things on their phones in the last couple months instead of "video games", which some people are going to think of as console things.
The 90% mobile gaming I can get behind its the others (54% on PC, and 46% on console.) that seem very high to me.
For people who play games, it tends to take up 16% of their leisure time, which turns out to 12 hours a week on average.

75 hours of leisure time a week?
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When I tell them giddy as a teenager that I am going out to buy Spider-Man and play it all weekend and they tell me they no longer play video games, I have no reason to doubt them.
Hm.

Well a lot of people I work with still do. Someone brought in their mini Nintendo to a previous office party, and I know some play mobile games. My office is older, most are in their 40s.

Well, count me in that 10% of gamers who don't play mobile games I guess.

My phone is pretty much just Twitter and Reddit Is Fun.

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to ask. Basically the question would be if you played a 3DS, Vita, DS, or other such handheld (pre-Switch) in June 2018, which would be a much lower number than handhelds once were.

I actually missed the word to in that handheld part so now it makes sense. So handhelds down to 9 %, excluding SW.
Oct 25, 2017
11,172
Earth
So many kids these days playing stuff like Minecraft, Overwatch, Fortnite, etc...

It's definitely possible that numbers are that high for consoles and PC.

Remember, PC gaming will probably include Facebook games and stuff. Did they mention if it does?

The 90% mobile gaming I can get behind its the others (54% on PC, and 46% on console.) that seem very high to me.

As long as you're aware were talking 54% and 46% of the 67% total gamers
PC Gaming includes anything played on the PC.

FliX

Master of the Reality Stone
Well, count me in that 10% of gamers who don't play mobile games I guess.

My phone is pretty much just Twitter and Reddit Is Fun.

I use my $1000 phone for text messaging and reading Resetera. Haven't had a game on it in ages.
As long as you're aware were talking 54% and 46% of the 67% total gamers
I am.
:)
The 90% mobile gaming I can get behind its the others (54% on PC, and 46% on console.) that seem very high to me.
As long as you're aware were talking 54% and 46% of the 67% total gamers
Yes, it's 28.8% of the total US population (aged 2 and up) playing on consoles, so if we assume extremely high rates for school and college aged children and then moderate rates above that, you'd get there pretty quickly, versus 43% of the total US population.
Mobile includes tablets
Switch is a Console
The % are of the 211m gamers
One office versus 5k sample survey? And firing up Candy Crush while in line somewhere or on the train counts as being a gamer. It's someone who has played a video game in the period.

Thanks for clarifying!
I assume the PC figure includes people playing words with friends on facebook and things like it. I find it hard to believe that 52% of Americans are playing Dota 2 or PUBG or Diablo.
I assume the PC figure includes people playing words with friends on facebook and things like it. I find it hard to believe that 52% of Americans are playing Dota 2 or PUBG or Diablo.

They're all playing Dwarf Fortress, actually.
Oct 25, 2017
11,172
Earth
PC Gaming includes anything played on the PC.

Thank you. I figured it would when I saw the %s.
Facebook games and such counts as PC right?

Edit: yup

So many people playing Roblox :p
I assume the PC figure includes people playing words with friends on facebook and things like it. I find it hard to believe that 52% of Americans are playing Dota 2 or PUBG or Diablo.
34.8% (67% * 52%) for anything on PC, including Facebook and browser games, yes.
I assume the PC figure includes people playing words with friends on facebook and things like it. I find it hard to believe that 52% of Americans are playing Dota 2 or PUBG or Diablo.
Yup. Anyone who's surprised "casuals" dominate gaming have been deluding themselves.
I use my $1000 phone for text messaging and reading Resetera. Haven't had a game on it in ages.

I am.
:)

I personally play 0 mobile games but iv got like 10 on there for my kids when i need to give them something to do for a short period of time in a pinch.
12 hours per week seems like a lot

Vex

Sucked Hecht’s Toes
67% of Americans age 2 and up are gamers. This is a total of 211.2 million gamer Americans.

Wow so many gamers! Good to know there is such a large percentage of you all out there. Just doing what gamers do!
I assume the PC figure includes people playing words with friends on facebook and things like it. I find it hard to believe that 52% of Americans are playing Dota 2 or PUBG or Diablo.

It's not actually 52% of americans, it's 52% of 67%. That aside, you do realize that the player numbers of stuff like DOTA 2 and League of Legends dwarf pretty much any console/pc game's, right? Between that and MMO's this should not be surprising.
12 hours per week seems like a lot
It is, but midcore games like Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes on mobile have averaged between 1.5 and 2.5 hours per day with their players, so even on mobile a lot of people will play a lot.
So from now on when we talk about how terrible "gamers" are we can just agree it's people who are shit.
Well, count me in that 10% of gamers who don't play mobile games I guess.

My phone is pretty much just Twitter and Reddit Is Fun.

Me too

Haven't downloaded a single game since I upgraded to iPhone X earlier this year

Well, count me in that 10% of gamers who don't play mobile games I guess.

My phone is pretty much just Twitter and Reddit Is Fun.

I play chess on my phone occasionally. That's pretty much it.
I have not played a game on my phone in years.
I have a tough time believing that... Going by my (techy) office there are only a small hand full of console/PC gamers.

You're right, anecdotal evidence of a small sample size is more representative of reality than a statistical survey.
*looks at methodology*

No wonder the numbers seem high.

*looks at methodology*

No wonder the numbers seem high.

What would your complaint set be?