New Study Shows More People Turning to Video Games During COVID-19
New Study Shows More People Turning to Video Games During COVID-19
Sixty percent of respondents ages 18-34 playing video games to socialize
FRISCO, Texas — July 13, 2020 — Three-fifths of Americans ages 18-34 have been using video games to connect with friends and families since stay-at-home orders went into effect, according to a new national poll from the Gearbox Entertainment Company, creator of successful video game franchises including, Borderlands and Brothers in Arms. Nearly half (47%) of respondents in this age group socialize through video games once per week or more, and 22% report doing so daily.
The Gearbox poll revealed how Americans’ entertainment habits have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 61% of all respondents, and 80% of those ages 18-34, agree they are playing more video games or watching more television or movies while under stay-at-home orders. Having more free time is the most-reported reason Americans are enjoying these entertainment options more often.
“This evidence confirms that video games are a powerful means for people to connect with one another at any distance, from across the room or across the country,” said Randy Pitchford, founder of the Gearbox Entertainment Company. “A huge slice of Americans, particularly young people, are increasingly turning to video games for entertainment and to build and maintain relationships during a period when face-to-face interaction are limited. We believe that trend is here to stay.”
The poll also showed that many Americans are trying out new entertainment outlets. One-third of all respondents are mostly or exclusively enjoying new movie, television, or video game titles. That number rises to 40% among respondents aged 55+, who are branching out to new forms of entertainment at the highest rate of any age group.
“The story told by the data collected in this survey validates our mission within the entertainment industry – to bring joy to the world,” continued Pitchford. “With an increasing variety of individuals searching for new home-based entertainment options, we see incredible opportunity for videogame makers to innovate with new and engaging interactive experiences to help make a distanced world become more connected and, well, happier.”
This poll was conducted online within the United States between May 18 and May 19, 2020. A total of 1,005 adults aged 18+ residing in the U.S. responded. Results were split by gender, age, household income, geographic region, children in household, educational attainment, employment status, marital status, race, political party, and urban/rural residence.
About Gearbox Entertainment Company
Gearbox Entertainment Company is a Frisco, Texas-based award-winning, independent developer and publisher of interactive entertainment. It was founded in 1999 by game industry veterans, and its first release was Half-Life: Opposing Force. Since then, the company has become known for successful game franchises including Borderlands, Brothers in Arms, and Battleborn, as well as acquired properties Duke Nukem and Homeworld. For more information, visit www.gearboxsoftware.com.
