Introduction

Online Gaming Statistics : Online gaming means playing video games over the Internet, allowing many players to interact in a virtual space. This includes various game types, from simple puzzles to complex simulations and large multiplayer online games (MMOs). The main feature of online gaming is that it connects players from different places, enabling them to compete and communicate in real-time.

The online gaming market is growing quickly in the global entertainment industry, making a lot of money and keeping users engaged. This growth is due to several reasons, such as more people having access to high-speed Internet, the rise of smartphones and digital devices, and the increasing popularity of esports and streaming services. We shall shed light on Online Gaming Statistics through this article.

Editor’s Choice

• Around 1.1 billion people worldwide play games online, with China, South Korea, and Japan having the largest online gaming audiences.
• In the UK, 38% of adults (ages 16 and up) play games online, and 57% of children (ages 3 to 15) do as well.
• The global gaming market is worth about $183.9 billion and is expected to reach $207 billion by 2026.
• As stated in Online Gaming Statistics, the video gaming industry is always growing, with billions of players around the world enjoying games.
• Mobile gaming is the most popular, making up the largest part of the market, followed by console gaming in second place and PC gaming in last.
• The gender gap in gaming is small, with 55% of players identifying as male and 45% as female.
• According to addiction statistics, less than 10% of gamers worldwide have an addiction to video games, and most of them are male.
• In 2023, EA Sports FC 24 was the top-selling game in the UK, selling almost 2.4 million copies.
• The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is the most popular gaming console, with 71% of its owners saying it’s their main device.

Online Gaming Platform

An online gaming platform is the software and hardware that connects players to online gaming and sports betting operators. It includes:

• Account Tools: Features that let players create or close their gaming accounts, update their profile information, deposit or withdraw money, and check their account transactions.
• Game Information Display: Technical elements that show players important details about the games available.
• Client Software: Programs that players need to download and install on their devices to use the online gaming platform.
• Management Tools for Operators: Systems that help operators manage player accounts, handle money transactions, report game outcomes, activate or deactivate accounts, and set various options.
• Data Storage Systems: Systems that store players’ personal information, transaction details, and results from games or events (known as the player database).
• Payment Systems: Tools that make transferring money between players and the gaming operator easy, allowing funds to move from the player’s payment method to the operator and back again (called a payment gateway).

General Online Gaming Statistics

• The most common age group for online gamers in the UK is 12 to 15 years old, with 76% of them saying they play online games.
• About 29% of young adult gamers say they play online with strangers.
• Nearly 90% of video game sales are made online rather than in stores.
• 41% of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners are female, which goes against some stereotypes about gender in gaming.
• The global gaming industry is expected to be worth $321 billion by 2026.
• Online gaming revenue grew from $135.4 billion in 2020 to $176.06 billion in 2023.
• Mobile gaming revenue increased by 7.3% in 2021, reaching $93.2 billion, and is projected to reach $218.7 billion by 2024.
• Research by Ofcom found that the average gamer plays video games for about 7.5 hours a week.
• Despite this, 75% of parents with kids who game online are worried about their children seeing inappropriate content.
• In the third quarter of 2023, 7.6 billion hours of live content were watched across all platforms.
• Online Gaming Statistics stated that almost 27% of internet users watch live streaming content each week, including all types of streams, not just gaming.
• Video games make up a significant part of the streaming market. People who watch live streams are 21% more likely to be gamers and 62% more likely to be interested in esports than the average viewer.

(Source: market.us)

• The gaming livestream market is expected to grow by 9.28% from 2023 to 2028, reaching about $18.22 billion.
• Fortnite is the most streamed game ever, with over 4.5 million people streaming it on Twitch from December 2022 to December 2023.
• According to Online Gaming Statistics, the total value of the esports industry was over $1.6 billion in 2023.
• As of May 2021, the Free Fire World Series 2021 in Singapore had the most viewers of any esports event, with a peak of 5.41 million viewers.
• It’s estimated that around 57% of esports views come from the Asia Pacific region.
• Esports global revenue fell from $957.5 million in 2019 to $947.1 million in 2020, likely due to the pandemic. However, it is expected to continue growing in 2024!
• The biggest prize pool in esports history was at the 2021 Dota 2 The International tournament, with a total of $40 million, most of which went to Team Spirit, the winning team.

Online Gaming Demographics Statistics

• In 2023, about 40% of people around the world played games online. This shows that online gaming is very popular and enjoyed by many people worldwide.
• Online gaming attracts many different age groups, but the largest group is young adults and teenagers.
• According to the Entertainment Software Association, most gamers in the US are adults, with 76% being over 18 years old.

(Reference: theesa.com)

• Age Breakdown:

#1. 18-34 years: This group makes up 38% of gamers, which is about 1.17 billion people.

#2. Under 18 years: They represent 20% of the gaming population or roughly 618 million young gamers.

#3. 35-44 years: This age group accounts for 14% of gamers, totaling around 433 million.

#4. 45-54 years: This group makes up 12% of gamers, which is about 371 million.

#5. 55-64 years: They represent 9% of the gaming community, totaling 278 million.

#6. Sixty-five years and older: Older gamers make up 7%, with about 216 million participants.

(Reference: theesa.com)

• Globally, 80% of gamers are over 18, which equals about 2.47 billion adult gamers, while around 618 million are under 18.
• Different age groups often have different gaming preferences, as per Online Gaming Statistics.
• Younger players usually enjoy action games, like first-person shooters and battle royales, while older players may prefer strategy games, simulations, or casual gaming.
• Over time, there has been an increase in older gamers, showing a wider range of ages in gaming.

(Reference: theesa.com)

• This trend is happening because gaming is becoming more accepted and accessible for everyone.
• The gaming community includes both male and female gamers, though there are still some differences as per Online Gaming Statistics.
• Traditionally, most gamers have been male, but more females are joining the fray. There are about 1.7 billion male gamers and 1.39 billion female gamers worldwide, which shows a diverse gaming community.

(Reference: 300mind.studio)

• In the UUS, 55% of gamers are male, while female gamers make up 45% of the gaming population, highlighting their important role in the community.
• Preferences for game types can vary by gender. Males often like action, sports, and first-person shooter games, while females tend to prefer role-playing games, simulations, and puzzle games.
• The gaming industry is actively working towards more gender diversity and inclusivity.
• There have been greater efforts to create welcoming gaming environments and develop games that represent different gender identities.

Global Online Gaming Statistics

• It is an understatement to say that gaming is popular. Today, gaming is a favorite hobby worldwide, with millions of people enjoying it on different devices.

1. Gaming Participation: About 80% of people online play games.
2. Future Projections: The total number of gamers using PPC consoles, tablets, and smartphones is expected to reach 3.6 billion by 2025. As more people play, the number of games available will also grow.

• In 2023, a remarkable 12,209 new games were released on Steam alone.
• Top Games: PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS had the highest peak number of players, reaching 3,257,248 at once. Palworld was second with 2,101,867 players.
• Online Gaming Statistics stated that the total number of gamers worldwide hit 3.3 billion in 2023.
• The Asia-Pacific region has the most players, with 1.7 billion from major markets like India and China, as well as countries known for their strong gaming cultures, such as Japan and South Korea.

(Source: solitaired.com)

• More than 50% of gamers have paid money for games, and spending money on video games is very common among players.

(Reference: solitaired.com)

• Recently, with the rise of free-to-play (F2P) games, in-game purchases have become more popular. Publishers and developers of these games need to provide fun and valuable content to keep players engaged.

(Reference: solitaired.com)

• The global revenue from game consoles is expected to reach $26.2 billion by 2028.
• This is an increase of $2.1 billion and a growth rate of 8.71% from 2024 to 2028. This revenue has been steadily growing over the last ten years.
• Minecraft is a very popular video game that has sold 300 million copies. It started as a Java applet in its early version but has since expanded to 22 platforms and has up to 166 million active players each month.
• Xbox Live has over 120 million active users. While it’s free, it’s recommended to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold to unlock all the benefits of online gaming.
• Following is the overview of online gaming industry growth between 2023 and 2027 around various nations:

• This subscription offers online play, discounts on game purchases, early access to new games, and beta versions.
• Additionally, Xbox plans to launch a mobile app store on Android in 2024.
• Sony’s PlayStation Plus is only available as a paid subscription. This allows Sony to provide a wide range of premium features and benefits to its users. Currently, PlayStation Plus has about 47.4 million subscribers.
• Nintendo has achieved impressive sales with its console, the Nintendo Switch, reaching 109 million units sold, according to Online Gaming Statistics.
• The earlier Wii console also performed well, with 101.63 million units sold. Nintendo plans to release new consoles and a new 3D Mario game in 2024.
• “Honor of Kings” is the highest-grossing mobile game in the world, with an incredible revenue of $864.32 million.
• Following closely is “PUBG MOBILE,” which has earned $636.7 million, showing the lasting popularity of battle royal games.

(Reference: solitaired.com)

• Subway Surfers was the most popular Android gaming app in the world, with about 12.82 million downloads.
• Roblox followed closely, with 10.68 million downloads as per Online Gaming Statistics.
• Another game, “Indian Bikes Driving 3D,” also gained popularity, reaching around 8.16 million downloads and becoming one of the leading Android gaming apps.

(Reference: solitaired.com)

• X-HERO was the most popular iPhone game, with 7.1 million downloads. Survivor.io also did well, ranking second with 4.6 million downloads.
• Stumble Guys is the top iPad game, with 2.3 million downloads. It is very popular among iPad users. Survivor.io is in second place with 1.1 million downloads.
• Online card games like Spider Solitaire and FreeCell are getting more popular, and the digital market is expected to grow faster than the physical one.
• Earnings are forecasted to rise by 11.98% each year from 2022 to 2027, reaching a market size of $22.45 billion by 2027.
• In 2022, video games made a lot of money in different countries, as per Online Gaming Statistics.
• China led with a remarkable $90.21 billion, followed by the United States with $77.88 billion. Japan also did well, bringing in $63.98 billion from the gaming industry.
• Around 50% of players and viewers found new brands while playing games.
• Video games have become key marketing tools for many companies, helping brands connect with their target audiences in ways that are more effective than traditional advertising.

Video Gaming Industry Statistics

• In 2023, game consoles experienced strong growth, which was a welcome change after supply chain problems and delays in new game releases had slowed progress during the pandemic.
• According to video game industry statistics, revenues increased by 7.4% in 2023, outperforming PPCsand mobile games.
• Microsoft’s new Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation 5 also saw significant growth this year, boosted by the release of popular games.
• The total revenues for the “big three” console video game companies in 2023 were impressive:

#1. Sony PlayStation: $26.791 billion

#2. Microsoft Xbox: $15.43 billion

#3. Nintendo: $12.042 billion

• While mobile gaming has gained ground, experts expect strong console sales to keep going.
• As stated in Online Gaming Statistics, Sony projected it would sell 25 million PS5 consoles in 2023, a record for its PlayStation devices.
• Microsoft and Nintendo also reported notable increases in revenue from console sales, services, and game content.

(Reference: liquidweb.com)

• It will be interesting to see how sales of current-generation consoles change over time, especially after Microsoft’s recent purchases of popular game developers like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
• Only time will tell if Microsoft’s focus on its Xbox/PPCGame Pass subscription and exclusive games will attract loyal PlayStation fans to Xbox.
• For game development, the PPC remains the top choice for developers.
• In a 2024 Game Developers Conference (GDC) State of the Industry Report, 66% of developers stated that PPC is their favorite platform.
• The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X are in second and third place, with 35% and 34% of developers, respectively, planning to create new games for those platforms.
• The 2024 State of the Game Industry Survey reveals that most game developers are still male, making up nearly 70% of those surveyed.
• Just under 25% were women, and 5% identified as non-binary. About 21% said they were part of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Regarding race, 65% identified as Caucasian, while only 9% reported being Hispanic, and 12% identified as Asian, as per Online Gaming Statistics.
• As of 2023, some of the most in-demand jobs in gaming include metaverse strategist, user interface (UUI engineer, and developer.
• Today’s developers are skilled in various programming languages and techniques, as well as navigation, physics simulation, and logic.
• With the increasing use of cryptocurrencies in gaming, many also know blockchain engineering.

(Reference: weforum.org)

• Following are 2024 Video Games Trends:

1. Augmented Reality (AAR and Virtual Reality (VVR: These technologies are set to grow as they become more advanced and affordable. Multiplayer games will especially benefit from this growth.
2. Fitness Gaming: Fitness has been popular on platforms like YouTube and mobile apps, and it’s likely to become more common in gaming, especially with AAR and VVR becoming more popular.
3. Esports: Competitive multiplayer video games are a big growth area. One estimate valued the 2023 esports market at over $2.1 billion.
4. Generative AAI Developers will increasingly use generative AAI to create personalized experiences and stories that change based on players’ choices.
5. Cloud Gaming: Better internet speeds and bandwidth will support the growth of cloud gaming and gaming as a service. This could attract gamers and new audiences who want to avoid buying gaming hardware and individual games. As a result, subscription services are expected to see significant growth, with revenue projected to reach $11 billion by 2025.

Gamers Statistics

• There are currently 3.22 billion gamers worldwide, and this number is expected to grow to 3.32 billion by 2024.
• From 2022 to 2023, the total number of gamers increased by 0.130 billion, or 4.21%.
• As of 2023, there were 4,450 active esports players in the United States. About 0.322 billion gamers play for less than one hour each day.
• According to Online Gaming Statistics, the global gaming industry is projected to reach $233.5 billion in revenue by the end of 2023.
• Following is the table that depicts the number of gamers between 2015 to 2024:

• The US gaming industry generated $90 billion in revenue this year. As of 2023, North America had 285 million gamers.
• By 2024, nearly 82% of all internet users around the world have played video games.
• In 2022, there were over 1.7 billion male gamers and more than 1.39 billion female gamers globally. There were also 618 million gamers under 18 years old.
• In 2022, 89.7% of male internet users aged 16 to 24 played video games. Additionally, 52% of gamers worldwide subscribe to at least one gaming service.
• Following is the table that shows the top 10 nations with the maximum number of active eSports players:

• In the US, 66% of gamers say they play video games to relax, which is about 2.04 billion gamers.
• Furthermore, 1.61 billion gamers play to pass the time while taking breaks or waiting for someone.
• Following is the table that shows the total time spent playing video games every week by gamers:

• Asia has the most gamers, followed by Europe with 22%, Latin America with 13%, North America with 8.85%, the MENA region with 5.21%, Sub-Saharan Africa with 4.47%, and Oceania with 0.5%.
• In this section, we will look at key statistics about gamers by region and country.
• As of 2023, North America has 285 million gamers, as stated in Online Gaming Statistics.
• Following is the table that shows the gamers as of 2023 by region:

• About 52% of gamers worldwide have at least one gaming service subscription.
• Among console gamers, 74% are more likely to subscribe to these services, and 66% of PPC gamers are also inclined to do so.
• Online Gaming Statistics stated that almost 2.04 billion PPC gamers are likely to have subscriptions.
• More than 143 million gamers in the United States say they play video games to relax.
• Also, over 112 million gamers play while they are taking a break or waiting for someone.
• About 66% of gamers say their main reason for playing video games is to unwind, which is around 2.04 billion gamers worldwide.
• Following is the table that shows the top reasons for playing video games in the UUS

• The following table shows the number of gamers and their reasons for playing video games in the UUS

• Finance Online reports that 1.29 billion gamers globally use smartphones to play video games.
• In addition, 676 million gamers use PPCsfor gaming.
• Smartphone games account for 40% of the gaming market.

Mobile Gaming Statistics

• The worldwide gaming market, which includes mobile games and other platforms, earned more than $184 billion in revenue in 2023, growing 0.6% from the previous year.
• By 2026, it is expected that global gaming revenue will reach $205 billion.

(Reference: blog.udonis.co)

• The Asia-Pacific gaming market is the largest, earning $84.1 billion in revenue, but according to Online Gaming Statistics, it fell by 0.8% compared to last year.
• In North America, the gaming market increased by 1.7% year-over-year, reaching $50.6 billion. In Europe, it grew by 0.8%, totaling $33.6 billion.

(Reference: blog.udonis.co)

• In 2023, the total earnings from all types of games reached $184 billion. The mobile game market made up 49% of this, which is $90 billion. This means that almost half of all gaming happens on mobile devices.
• Console games accounted for 29% of the revenue, bringing in $53 billion, while PPC games made up 21%, with $38 billion. Browser-based PC games had a small share of only 1%.
• Mobile game revenue in 2023 was $90 billion, which is a drop of 1.4% from the previous year. This indicates that the mobile gaming market has faced a slight decline after the pandemic but is starting to stabilise.
• In detail, over 1,500 mobile apps and games earned more than $10 million in 2023. Out of these, 219 games made over $100 million, and 13 games generated more than $1 billion in revenue.

(Reference: blog.udonis.co)

• Statista predicts that the mobile games market will grow to $118 billion by 2027.
• Mobile games are very profitable. They make up the biggest share of the gaming market and generate almost $100 billion in revenue.
• The top five mobile game markets based on downloads from Google Play are:

#1. India: 9.3 billion downloads in 2023

#2. Brazil: 4.2 billion downloads

#3. Indonesia: 3.2 billion downloads

#4. Russia: 2.4 billion downloads

#5. United States: 2.3 billion downloads

• In 2023, the top three mobile game markets based on the amount of money people spent on Google Play were the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
• According to Online Gaming Statistics, the leading markets for iOS were the United States, China, and Japan.
• The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile games in the UUS is $57, and it is expected to increase to $64 by 2027.
• According to SensorTower, here are the top mobile game genres around the world based on total revenue:

• Notably, RPG and strategy games are the highest earners in mobile gaming, while the puzzle genre, popular for casual play, ranks third.
• Following are the leading mobile games genres that are highly downloaded in the United States:

• 74%of mobile gamers in the United States would watch a video ad if they got in-app rewards in return
• 82%of mobile gamers prefer free games with ads rather than paid games without ads.
• In-app purchases account for 95% of all money spent by users, as per Online Gaming Statistics.
• Women are much more likely to buy items within mobile games than men.
• In-app bidding has become the main way to handle advertising revenue, replacing the older waterfall method.
• More than 30% of women who play mobile games are willing to spend money on them.
• The number of times users interact with games each day is doubling every year.
• Mobile game influencers are 21% more effective than non-gamer influencers at convincing people to make purchases.

Online Gaming Revenue Statistics

• The esports industry is projected to go beyond $1.5 billion in revenue by 2023.
• The free-to-play model is the most popular choice among online gamers, making up 80% of the industry’s income.
• The global online gaming market was valued at $67.65 billion in 2023 and is forecasted to grow to $159.3 billion in 2020.
• By the end of 2020, global online gaming revenue reached $159.3 billion, which is a 9.3% increase from 2019.
• The highest-earning online game is League of Legends, which earned over $1.75 billion in 2020. Virtual reality (VVR games generated more than $1 billion in revenue that same year.
• The online gaming market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 12% from 2021 to 2026.

(Source: blog.vinfotech.com)

• The market for in-game advertising is predicted to reach $3.85 billion by 2025.
• Overall, online gaming revenue is expected to reach $273 billion by 2025.
• Fortnite, another well-known online game, earned $2.4 billion in 2020.
• Online gaming earned more than the movie and music industries combined in 2020.
• Together, the top 10 online games brought in over $17 billion in revenue that year.
• According to Online Gaming Statistics, the online gaming market is anticipated to grow at an annual rate of 11.5% from 2021 to 2028.
• Online multiplayer gaming accounts for 63% of total gaming revenue. The global online gaming industry is projected to grow at a rate of 7.6% from 2021 to 2026.
• The top 10 online games made up 25% of all online gaming revenue worldwide in 2023.
• As of 2023, the total value of the online gaming market is $760 billion.

Social Online Gaming Habits Statistics

• As per Online Gaming Statistics, almost 61% of online gamers enjoy playing with friends.
• Almost 42% are willing to spend money on in-game purchases.
• Nearly 85% use social media for gaming-related content.
• 29% spend over 10 hours a week playing games.
• Roughly 46% feel that gaming helps them manage stress.
• Almost 32% of mobile gamers consider themselves “hardcore” players.
• Online Gaming Statistics stated that almost 55% play with people they know in real life.
• 70% of parents play video games with their children at least once a month.
• Nearly 62% of gamers in the UUK play online to connect with friends and family.
• 53% of online gamers value the social aspect of gaming more than winning.
• In the US, 75% of gamers play with others online.
• As per Online Gaming Statistics, around 33% of people watch gaming videos daily.
• 64% of UUSgamers prefer to pay for games upfront rather than through in-game purchases.

Recent Developments

• Electronic Arts Inc. (EEA:

#1. August 2023: EEA announced it purchased Glu Mobile, a developer known for games like “Design Home” and “Disney Sorcerer’s Arena,” for $2.1 billion, expanding its mobile game offerings.

#2. October 2023: EEA launched Apex Legends Mobile, a free version of its popular battle royale game, to take advantage of the growing mobile gaming market.

• Activision Blizzard, Inc.:

#1. January 2023: Activision revealed a partnership with Microsoft for their $68.7 billion acquisition, aiming to create a leading interactive entertainment company with a strong online gaming presence.

#2. June 2023: They released “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” a highly anticipated sequel to the Modern Warfare series that attracted millions of players right at launch.

• Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (SIE):

#1. March 2023: Sony acquired Haven Studios, a new game development team led by experienced creators from the Uncharted series, to boost its online game development efforts.

#2. July 2023: Sony introduced a revamped “PlayStation Plus,” offering new subscription plans that give access to a larger library of online games and extra benefits.

Conclusion

Looking ahead, online gaming has even more possibilities. New technologies like cloud gaming, virtual reality (VVR, and augmented reality (AAR will create more immersive experiences. Esports will continue to grow, creating professional gaming opportunities and attracting more fans. As online gaming develops, it will keep shaping the future of entertainment, technology, and social interactions. With its large and diverse community, online gaming is now an important part of modern culture, connecting people from different backgrounds and offering endless chances for fun and engagement. In this article, we have shed enough light on Online Gaming Statistics.

ABOUT AUTHOR

by Flo Headlam

Devoted my whole life to words - reading, writing and trying to be original on social media. Got certified in digital marketing - still not cool enough to be an influencer. Finished a master’s degree focused in Literature, Publishing, Mass Media. Hobbies include traveling, reading and hoping that yoga will be the thing to finally teach me some patience. Would like to take over the world at some point, but that’s an optional dream. Maybe modern tech can help me do that?