Game Console Demographics: 70 User Facts & Numbers [2023]

Game console user demographics show an interesting mix of age, gender, and location. Understanding the characteristics of game console users can provide valuable insights for game developers, marketers, and content creators.

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the user demographics and what they reveal about the gaming community.

Quick Demographic Facts About Game Console Users

• In the United States, gaming penetration is at 82.9%.
• 21% of video game players are under 18 years old.
• 26% of video game players in the US are aged between 34 and 54.
• 64% of US adults and 70% of individuals under 18 play video games regularly.
• Among US teens aged 13 to 18 years old, 46% play games on mobile, 27% through a video console, and 17% on a computer.
• 54% of gamers in 2022 use their smartphones for gaming.
• Among tweens and teens in the US, 22% play video games on smartphones, and an equal percentage (22%) play on tablets; 11% play on a computer, while 2% play on an iPod Touch.

While the data primarily focuses on the US market, it offers valuable insights into the demographics of gaming console users and trends in gaming behavior.

We see a younger demographic among mobile gamers.

Age Demographics of Game Console Users

• Under 18s comprise 21% of console gamers in the United States
• 38% of video game players in the US are aged 18 to 34
• 26% of gamers in the American market fall in the 35 to 54 age bracket
• The highest weekly average playtime (7.5 hours) is seen among gamers aged 26 to 35
• A particularly engaged group is the 18-34 age range, with 43% of these adults playing at least seven hours of video games per week

The data highlights a diverse age distribution of console gamers, reflecting the widespread appeal of gaming across age groups, with distinct preferences and play habits identified for each demographic segment.

Here are the demographics of Xbox players specifically.

Gender Demographics of Game Console Users

• In 2022, women accounted for 48% of gamers in the United States.
• This was an increase from 45% of U.S. gamers identifying as women during the previous year.
• Console gaming data from 2022 indicates that 40% of respondents who regularly played on a console were female.
• In relation to PlayStation owners, 41% of PlayStation 4 and 5 users were women.
• A 2020 study found that 77% of active console players belonged to Gen Alpha and Gen Z, aged between 10 to 22 years old.
• The same study reported that 75% of active console players were Millennials, and 66% belonged to Gen X.
• When focusing on mobile gaming, 79% of active players were from Gen Alpha and Gen Z, 72% were Millennials, and 68% were from Gen X.

The data highlights a noticeable shift in gaming demographics, showcasing an increasingly diverse and widening audience for console gaming, particularly among female gamers.

It’s interesting to see the difference when comparing to demographics of board game fans.

Ethnicity Demographics of Game Console Users

• Black and Latinx youth in the US spend more time per day on both mobile games and console games than white youth.
• Gaming penetration in the U.S. stands at 82.9%.
• 54% of gamers in 2022 use their smartphones for gaming purposes.

The data highlights the diverse demographic landscape of game console users in the United States, showcasing differences in gaming habits and device ownership based on factors such as age, ethnicity, and income levels.

Demographic Breakdown per State

Age Distribution

• Under 18 years: 20%
• 18 to 34 years: 38%
• 35-44 years: 14%
• 45 to 54 years: 12%
• 55 to 64 years: 9%
• 65 and older: 7

This differs a bit from the demographics of Discord users, who also happens to be gamers in large.

Gender Distribution:

• Male gamers: Predominant in 10-20 and 36-50 age cohorts
• Female gamers: Surpass males in 36-50 and 51-65 age cohorts

Frequency of Play:

• 64% of U.S. adults play video games regularly
• 70% of those under 18 play video games regularly

Platform Usage:

• 54% of gamers in 2022 use their smartphones for gaming

The data indicates that gaming is popular across various age groups, genders, and platforms, highlighting the widespread appeal of this form of entertainment.

More Demographics

• According to a Pew Research Center survey, 40% of adults own a game console such as Xbox or PlayStation.
• Game console ownership is more common in households with an annual income above $30,000, as 54% of those adults have a console, compared to only 33% in lower-income households.
• The most active age group in the gaming community is boys under 18, representing 17% of all gamers.
• Among women, the most active demographic is aged between 18-35, making up 13% of the gaming community.
• The average male video game player is 34 years old.
• There is a significant gender gap in gaming access, with 92% of teen boys having access to a game console, compared to 75% of teen girls.
• Furthermore, 97% of teen boys play video games on some device, while 83% of teen girls do the same.

The data shows a clear divide in terms of income, age, and gender when it comes to gaming console ownership and usage.

Education Level Demographics

• Among gamers, 23% have a high school diploma or less, while 35% have some college education.
• College graduates account for 32% of the gaming population.
• Gamers with a postgraduate degree make up 10% of the demographic.

It is evident that the majority of gamers have some college education or have completed a college degree. This diverse, wide-ranging demographic represents the widespread appeal of gaming consoles across various education levels, reflecting the inclusive nature of this form of entertainment.

Average Income Level

• 40% of adults in the United States own a gaming console, such as an Xbox or PlayStation.
• Ownership rates vary based on household income levels. For example, 54% of adults from households earning $75,000 or more per year own a gaming console.
• Conversely, only 33% of adults whose households earn less than $30,000 annually own a game console.
• Game console ownership varies based on household income, with 54% of adults from households earning $75,000 or more a year owning a game console, compared to only 33% of those earning less than $30,000 annually.

Based on the data, gaming console ownership is more common in higher-income households, suggesting that income plays a role in the accessibility and affordability of this form of entertainment.

Other Interesting Facts About Game Console Users

• The global gaming revenue is predicted to be around $337 billion in 2027.
• There are over 3 billion active video gamers in the world by 2023.
• The average gamer is 34 years old.
• 70% of gamers are age 18 or older.
• 60% of Americans play video games daily.
• 45% of US gamers are women.
• 82% of people played or watched video games at the height of 2020.
• PC gaming vs. console gaming statistics show that only 8% of the gamers identified as console-only.
• Gen Alpha and Gen Z have the highest percentage of console and mobile players, followed by Millennials.
• Millennials, who spend $112 a month on gaming, prefer PC gaming.
• The Nintendo Switch has sold over 89 million units worldwide as of March 2022.
• As of 2021, the PlayStation 5 has sold over 13 million units worldwide since its release.
• The Xbox Series X/S has sold over 6.5 million units worldwide as of April 2021.
• The Nintendo Switch Lite has sold over 17 million units worldwide as of March 2022.
• The most popular gaming console in Japan is the Nintendo Switch.
• The PlayStation 4 has sold over 116 million units worldwide as of December 2020.
• The Xbox One has sold over 50 million units worldwide as of 2021.
• The Nintendo 3DS has sold over 75 million units worldwide as of September 2020.
• In the U.S., the PlayStation 4 is the most popular gaming console.
• The Xbox One S is the best-selling console in the U.S. as of 2021.
• As of 2021, 72% of Americans play video games.
• 38% of gamers are female.
• The Xbox Game Pass has over 18 million subscribers as of January 2021.
• 53% of gamers in the U.S. prefer console gaming.
• The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are sold out due to high demand as of 2021.
• As of 2021, the Xbox Series X/S has the most powerful console hardware.
• The PlayStation 4 was the best-selling gaming console of the eighth generation.
• The Nintendo Switch is the fastest-selling console in the U.S.
• The gaming industry employs over 220,000 people in the U.S. alone.
• The global video game market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% from 2021 to 2026.
• In the U.S., 35% of gamers are aged 18 to 34.
• In Japan, 34% of gamers are aged 10 to 19.
• In the U.K., 46% of gamers are aged 35 or over.
• The average gamer spends 7 hours a week playing video games.
• 41% of gamers play on their smartphones.
• The average mobile gamer spends $4.20 per month on in-app purchases.
• 60% of gamers play with friends online.
• The global eSports market is expected to reach $1.08 billion in revenue in 2023.
• Console gaming generates more revenue than PC gaming.

The data provided offers a comprehensive insight into various aspects of game console users, ranging from age and gender distribution to gaming habits and preferences.

Sources

• https://www.statista.com/topics/3124/console-gaming/
• https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
• https://techjury.net/blog/video-game-demographics/#gref
• https://www.statista.com/topics/863/console-gaming/
• https://www.esa.com/2020/06/26/essential-facts-esa-2020/
• https://morningconsult.com/2021/09/13/xbox-playstation-shortages-gamers/
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/232383/gender-split-of-us-computer-and-video-gamers/
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/253160/console-gamers-gender-in-us/
• https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/10/29/the-demographics-of-device-ownership/
• https://playtoday.co/bl-os/us-gamer-demographics
• https://www.vertoanalytics.com/51-significant-video-game-demographic-statistics/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/6998/gaming-audiences-in-the-united-states/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/6871/console-gaming/
• https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/13/confronting-racial-bias-in-video-games/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/1680/console-gaming/
• https://www.liquidweb.com/blog/video-game-industry-statistics/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/1682/console-gaming/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/840/videos/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/5286/console-gaming/
• https://www.statista.com/topics/4547/game-consoles/
• https://www.playtoday.co/gaming-industry-statistics/