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State of the Screens

Gaming Is Bigger Than Ever, But Can The Fun Last?

By January 14, 2021No Comments

Gaming on Nintendo Switch

Global video game market (YoY growth) according to SuperData:

1) 2019 – $124.5B
2) 2020 – $139.9B (↑ 12%)
3) 2021 – $142.2B (↑ 2%)

Total games and interactive media revenue

Key details for the video game market:
1) 55% played video games during the pandemic
2) Free-to-play games account for 78% of revenue
3) 1.2B watched other people play video games (Twitch, etc.)

Interesting: The largest free-to-play game (Honor of Kings) generated 28% more revenue than the largest premium title (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare).

Top 10 Gaming Titles

Big question: Why do people play video games?

Top Reasons to Play Video Games during Pandemic

Top reasons to play video games during COVID-19:

1) Boredom – 56%
2) Escape reality – 45%
3) Substitute for other entertainment – 36%
4) Connecting with friends/family – 29%
5) Socialize with strangers – 26%

More #1: Making Moves in the Gaming Market

More #2: The 50 best video games of all time, according to critics

Michael Beach

Michael Beach is the Chief Executive Officer of Cross Screen Media, a media analytics and software company that enables marketers to plan, activate, and measure CTV and linear TV at the local level. Michael is also the founder and editor of State of the Screens, a weekly newsletter focused on video advertising that is a must-read for thought leaders in the advertising industry. He has appeared in such publications as PBS Frontline, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Axios, CNBC and Bloomberg, and on NPR’s Planet Money podcast.

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