ABOUT THE U.S. VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY

ESSENTIAL

FACTS

ESSENTIAL

FACTS

20232023

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) released the 2023

Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry in July 2023.

Circana conducted the annual research for ESA in April 2023 using

an online methodology. The study gathered data from approximately

4,000 Americans about their video game playing habits and

attitudes. The 2023 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game

Industry also includes data provided by the Entertainment Software

Rating Board (ESRB), Circana and Sensor Tower.

VIDEO GAMES ARE ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST

BELOVED PASTIMES. EVERY WEEK, 212.6 MILLION

AMERICANS PLAY VIDEO GAMES AS PART OF

THEIR REGULAR ROUTINE.

No matter your interest, there is a video game you will love.

So, it’s no surprise that so many people choose to play.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults play video games regularly,

and that number jumps to 76% for children under the

age of 18. Players come from all walks of life, with strong

engagement across age, gender and racial/ethnic groups.

The diversity of today’s video game player community

reects the wide range of games available as a source of fun

and enjoyment.

But games don’t simply entertain. They also create

opportunities to sharpen our skills and stimulate our

minds – and even non-players recognize that. This year’s

research shows that 96% of all Americans see video games

as benecial, even if they don’t play them regularly. Video

games are seen as a tool for building problem-solving

skills, teamwork and collaboration, communication, conict

resolution and leadership skills.

Stanley Pierre-Louis

President & Chief Executive Ofcer

Entertainment Software Association

Games also help forge new connections, nd safe and

supportive communities and deepen our relationships with

those around us. Today, 80% of players play with others and

most believe that games help them stay connected to friends

and family and strengthen those relationships. Half of all

players have met a good friend, spouse or signicant other

through video games. And games serve as a go-to activity for

more and more American families: 76% of U.S. parents play

video games to have fun and connect with their kids.

The 2023 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry

report details America’s relationship with video games and

the reasons why games continue to inspire and delight us

all. Play is a universal need for kids as well as adults. Video

games build community, keep our minds sharp and bring us

closer to others. Embracing the power of games unlocks our

extraordinary potential, transforming lives – and the world.

EVERYONE PLAYS

212.6 MILLION AMERICANS PLAY VIDEO

GAMES AT LEAST ONE HOUR A WEEK.

VIDEO GAME PLAYERS ARE DIVERSE:

65%

OF AMERICANS.

THAT'S

Other

72%

White

10%

Hispanic

Black/African American

Asian/Pacic

Islander

ETHNICITY

62% of adults (18+) play video games.

76% of kids under 18 play video games.

21 years.

The average video game player is

and has been playing for

1% selected "Other" or chose not to answer

53%

Male

46%

Female

TOP FIVE GENRES FOR ALL PLAYERS:

63%

Puzzle

52%

Arcade & Other

44%

Skill & Chance

42%

Shooter

41%

Action

FAVORITE GAMES PLAYER HABITS

PLAYERS ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NON-PLAYERS TO:

Watch On–Demand and/or Streamed TV

(59% vs 47%)

Watch YouTube and/or Twitch

(60% vs 35%)

Watch Movies in a Theater

(20% vs 9%)

Play Tabletop Games

(25% vs 16%)

Listen to Non-Music Audio Content

(31% vs 20%)

45% of players agree that video games give them

the most value for their money compared to movies,

TV and music.

PLAYER ENGAGEMENT DEVICES USED

75%

of players play at least 4 hours of

games a week, across all platforms.

64%

Mobile

45%

PC/Laptop

24%

Tablet

10%

VR Headset

54%

Console

Players average

12.8 hours

a week across all platforms.

12%

of players only play on smartphones.

58%

of 18+ video game players use

multiple platforms.

To Play Video Games

THE BENEFITS OF PLAY

96%

OF AMERICANS VIEW

GAMES AS BENEFICIAL.

In addition, Americans say that video games:

BRING PEOPLE JOY

86%

84%

83%

81%

71%

81%

80%

PROVIDE MENTAL STIMULATION

PROVIDE STRESS RELIEF

HELP IMPROVE COGNITIVE SKILLS

CREATE A FEELING OF COMMUNITY

HELP BUILD PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

BRING DIFFERENT PEOPLE TOGETHER

BUILDING COMMUNITY

THROUGH PLAY

80%

OF PLAYERS PLAY WITH OTHERS.

82%

76%

60%

50%

47%

SAY GAMES EXPAND THEIR SOCIAL CIRCLES

SAY GAMES INTRODUCE THEM TO NEW FRIENDS AND RELATIONSHIPS

OF PARENTS PLAY VIDEO GAMES WITH THEIR CHILDREN

SAY GAMES HELP THEM STAY CONNECTED TO FRIENDS/FAMILY

HAVE MET A GOOD FRIEND, SPOUSE OR

SIGNIFICANT OTHER THROUGH VIDEO GAMES

OF PARENTS SAY GAMES ARE A GREAT WAY

FOR FAMILIES TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER

88%

PARENTS AND GAMES

84% are aware of

ESRB ratings .

74% regularly use

ESRB ratings.

A vast majority of parents make all/most of the content

decisions for their kids (78%), while others opt for a

hybrid approach that involves their kids (17%). Either way,

parents continue to play a key role in determining which

games are appropriate for their kids.

50%

17%

21%

12%

EVERYONE 10+

EVERYONE TEEN

MATURE

Includes ratings assigned for boxed (physical) video games and

downloadable titles playable on consoles.

ESRB RATINGS ASSIGNED IN 2022

AMONG PARENTS WITH CHILDREN

WHO PLAY GAMES:

4,868 RATINGS

ASSIGNED

TOP GAMES IN THE U.S. IN 2022

PC/Console

Best Sellers

Mobile

Top Grossing

Call of Duty:

Modern Warfare 2

Candy Crush Saga

Elden Ring Roblox

Madden NFL 23 Coin Master

God of War:

Ragnarök

Royal Match

LEGO Star Wars:

The Skywalker Saga

Pokémon Go

Pokémon:

Scarlet/Violet †

Evony

FIFA 23 Clash of Clans

Pokémon Legends:

Arceus

Homescapes

Horizon:

Forbidden West

Bingo Blitz

MLB:

The Show 22^

Jackpot Party

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF GAMES

TOTAL U.S. CONSUMER SPEND ON VIDEO GAMES IN 2022

YEAR-OVER-YEAR SPEND IN BILLIONS

$56.6 BILLION

Console: $6.6 billion , Content: $47.5 billion,

Accessories: $2.5 billion

2019 2020 2021 2022

$43.5 $56.1 $59.6 $56.6

Source: Circana

*Full-Game Sales Only

**Mobile spending provided by Sensor Tower, Inc.

†Digital sales not included

^Xbox Digital sales not included

ESA MEMBERS ESA AND OUR PARTNERS

Entertainment Software Association | TheESA.com | @TheESA

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) serves as the voice and advocate

for the U.S. video game industry. Its members are the innovators, creators,

publishers and business leaders that are reimagining entertainment and

transforming how we interact, learn, connect and play. The ESA works to expand

and protect the dynamic marketplace for video games through innovative

and engaging initiatives that showcase the positive impact of video games on

people, culture and the economy.

ESA Foundation | ESAFoundation.org | @ESA_Foundation

The ESA Foundation awards scholarships to the next generation of industry

innovators and supports schools and non-prots that leverage interactive

entertainment technology to create meaningful opportunities for America’s

youth. It seeks to harness the power of the video game industry to create

positive social impact and supports geographically diverse projects and

programs benetting grantees of all ages, races and genders.

Entertainment Software Rating Board | ESRB.org | @ESRBRatings

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is the non-prot, self-regulatory

body for the video game industry that assigns age and content ratings to video

games and mobile apps to help parents decide which are appropriate for their

family. ESRB also ensures companies responsibly market their products, as well

as protect their users’ privacy.

Circana | Circana.com

Circana is the leading advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior.

Through unparalleled technology, advanced analytics, cross industry data and

deep expertise, Circana provides clarity that helps almost 7,000 of the world’s

leading brands and retailers take action and unlock business growth. Circana

understands more about the complete consumer, the complete store and the

complete wallet, so their clients can go beyond the data to apply insights, ignite

innovation, meet consumer demand and outpace the competition. Practice areas

include consumer packaged goods, apparel, appliances, automotive, beauty,

books, B2B technology, consumer technology, e-commerce, fashion accessories,

food consumption, foodservice, footwear, home, home improvement, juvenile

products, media entertainment, mobile, ofce supplies, retail, sports, toys and

video games.

505 GAMES U.S.

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD

AMAZON

BANDAI NAMCO

ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA

CAPCOM U.S.A.

DISNEY

ELECTRONIC ARTS

EPIC GAMES

GEARBOX PUBLISHING

GUNGHO ONLINE

ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA

KALYPSO MEDIA U.S.A.

KONAMI OF AMERICA

KRAFTON

MARVELOUS U.S.A.

(XSEED GAMES)

MICROSOFT CORPORATION

NATSUME

NETFLIX

NEXON AMERICA

NINTENDO OF AMERICA

PLAION

RIOT GAMES

SEGA OF AMERICA

SIX FOOT

SONY INTERACTIVE

ENTERTAIMENT

SQUARE ENIX

TAKE TWO INTERACTIVE

TENCENT AMERICA

UBISOFT

WARNER BROS. GAMES

WIZARDS OF THE COAST