Long gone are the good old days when we’d enjoy simple LAN-based “gun-play” in Counter-Strike 1.6 with school friends. Today, online gaming comes with cutting-edge graphics, cut-throat competition, and purchasable add-ons.
Moving against the flow, the online gaming industry in the UK benefited vastly from the COVID-19 pandemic. As people, especially youngsters, got restricted to their homes, the traffic to online games skyrocketed.
The growing popularity of titles like Minecraft, PUBG, Fortnite, Roblox, Among Us, and others, reflects a general trend.
UK online game players are swelling in numbers — fast.
But first, we must understand the demographics of UK gamers to see why online gaming activity has spiked recently.
Demographic Profile of UK Online Game Players
You’ll also see that for different categories, the biggest demographic is different.
The biggest age group for mfortune casino, for instance, won’t be the same as Minecraft.
A recent statistical report revealed the demographics of UK gamers.
The biggest age category of gamers is 16-24 years (82%), followed by 25-34 (72%), and so on. Please note that the data does not reflect the number of active players. Instead, this is the data for age groups who’ve played online games at some point in their lives.
Based on another study, 56% of all 3-15 years old are engaged in online gaming at present. That number is 39% for the 16 and over (up to 65+) category.
In short, youngsters are the biggest demographic of players, especially 3-24 years old.
Socioeconomic Background of UK Online Game Players
Age group is only one factor, another important divide was the socioeconomic background of UK gamers. Players from a stronger socioeconomic background think of online gaming as a substitute for physical interactions.
Whereas players from a weaker socioeconomic background wanted to expand their friend circle and interact with their real-life friends online as well. The second category also caved into peer pressure when it came to the game title they chose.
In both cases, however, the elements of teamwork and online interactions were common, although motivations differed.
Online Gaming Communities and Social Interactions
Interacting with online gaming communities is another relevant factor. Channels like Discord and Reddit, on top of game chatrooms, allow players to interact with one another. This works much like social media, except for being specific for games.
It also affects gaming preferences in the UK because players now seek social interaction features in online games too.
Influence of Online Gaming on Lifestyle and Entertainment
The influence of these popular titles on UK online game players has been immense. Today, esports is a recognized sports genre. Moreover, professional video gaming has become a full-time profession.
However, on the flip side, gamers are less socially active in real life than children of older generations. Games like Pokemon GO have tried to add a real-time social element to gaming, but this fusion will take some time to perfect.
The Bottomline
For now, popular gaming platforms in the UK, such as Xbox and Playstation, are booming with activity. This tide of popularity will not subside anytime soon as games continue to appease a broader demographic.
What are you waiting for then? Grab your controller and get your geek on!
