September 18th 2024.
The gaming industry has been a major player in the entertainment world for years, and it's no secret that mobile gaming is leading the pack. In fact, a recent report has shed light on the changing attitudes of gamers in the US, with a majority now spending most of their gaming time on mobile devices.
It's not surprising that mobile gaming has become the most profitable sector of the gaming industry. Even traditional publishers like Xbox are trying to break into the market, hoping to compete with tech giants like Google and Apple.
The dominance of the mobile market is further highlighted in a new report by Circana, which surveyed 5,100 active players in the US between May and June of this year. To be considered an active gamer, one must have access to a gaming device and have used it within the past month.
The report revealed that 71% of US consumers engaged with video games in 2024, slightly down from the 74% seen in 2020 during the height of lockdown. However, this is still higher than the 67% reported in 2018, before the pandemic.
In terms of gaming platforms, mobile games reign supreme with 65% of US consumers playing them. This is the same as two years ago and is the largest platform. Following closely behind is PC gaming at 36%, a 4% decrease from 2022. Console gaming remains steady at 35%, while 13% play "other games," including VR.
Interestingly, the majority of gamers play on both mobile and PC/console, making up 66% of the gaming audience. Only 32% stick to one platform, with 27% solely using mobile devices.
The report also categorizes gamers into six groups: "super invested" Super Gamers, multiplayer-focused Console Warriors, Transitionals (adult gamers heavily invested in mobile), Easy Accessors (young gamers with limited access to mobile), casual older players known as Daily Dabblers, and Incidental Players (non-gamers who play mobile games).
Are you a Daily Dabbler? According to the report, Incidental Players make up the largest segment of the gaming market at 23%, although this is a significant decrease from two years ago. Daily Dabblers now make up the smallest portion at 14%, suggesting a decline in the casual gaming audience or a shift towards more invested players.
The Transitionals group has seen the biggest increase in the past two years, growing by 15%. This reflects the changing attitudes towards mobile gaming and its growing appeal to a wider audience.
The report also revealed that US gamers spend an average of 14.5 hours per week playing games, an increase of 1.8 hours since 2022. Surprisingly, console gamers spend the most time playing at 10.2 hours per week, followed by mobile gamers at 8.1 hours and PC gamers at 4.6 hours.
While the dominance of the mobile market is not a new revelation, it sheds light on why companies like Microsoft and Sony are expanding into it and releasing exclusive games on other platforms. With the console audience showing little growth, maximizing revenue through mobile gaming is becoming increasingly important.
However, despite its large market share, the mobile gaming industry is facing challenges. Earlier this year, a report showed a decrease in overall revenue from mobile gaming due to restrictions from Apple and Google on monetization.
It's clear that gaming is a significant part of the lives of many Americans, with a large chunk of the population playing games. Join the conversation by emailing us, leaving a comment, following us on Twitter, and signing up for our newsletter. And if you have a letter or feature to submit, our Submit Stuff page makes it easier than ever to share your thoughts. Plus, sign up for exclusive gaming content and get the latest releases before anyone else.
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