So far, virtual reality has been a dream, only being actively used by a small number of creative and fun-loving pioneers. Within the TUP 2021 survey, MetaFacts identified 358 respondents that report regularly wearing VR headsets.
This MetaFAQs report details their game-playing activities, including which devices they regularly use, along with their demographic and technological profile.
Profile of American immersive/video game-players
Playing games is more than a casual pastime for many, especially those who play immersive & video games. This MetaFAQs reports on the number of Americans who regularly use any of their connected devices to play immersive/video games – game consoles, smartphones, computers, tablets, or more than one. The report profiles respondents by age, gender, life stage, and other characteristics. Further, it reports on the other unique activities and consumer electronics this fun-loving group enjoys, including VR headsets and home projectors.
Active game-players by platforms
Game consoles get most of the attention in the gaming market. Many more online adults actively play immersive or other games using their connected devices – smartphones, tablets, or computers – than use game consoles. Outside of the US, Windows PCs outnumber smartphones as the game-playing platform of choice, especially in Germany and Japan. This TUP analysis reports on the number of online adults actively playing immersive or other games by platform type and country.
Using tablets to play games
Although the pandemic increased tech use in many areas, tablet gameplay was not one of them. 2020 saw a steep drop in tablet gaming, with a slow resurgence in 2021—a stronger rebound among some groups more than others. This MetaFAQs profiles all online adults who use tablets to play games. This analysis considers online tablet game players by life stage with a look at tablet users in the United States and globally. Report [TUP_doc_2022_0127_tabl] in TUP Lenses: Tablets; Activities; User Profile; Game Consoles, Gaming PCs, and Game-Playing.
How Americans use devices in technology ecosystems
Technology ecosystems can be called truly unique when users actively use them differently than others. This TUP analysis reviews the activities American adults regularly do with their smartphones, computers, and tablets. It reports on the top 10 activities that are the most unique by ecosystem family – Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS; iOS and Android; and iPadOS and Android. Unique activities are defined as those with the widest range of use, where the difference is widest between the usage percentage between each given operating system family.
Profile of American Microsoft game console users
Truly active gamers love their game consoles, including Microsoft’s Xbox. However, that love is not exclusive since a fifth of Microsoft’s game console users also use a Nintendo, and a fifth uses a Sony game console. Microsoft has only reached 14% of all online Americans, primarily among younger males. This MetaFAQs report profiles American Microsoft game console users by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, employment status, household size, life stage, and mix of technology ecosystems. Further, it details the percentage who use a VR headset and those who play games with a smartphone, PC, gaming PC, or tablet.
Profile of American Nintendo game console users
While 19% of all online Americans use any Nintendo game console, penetration is highest among the youngest male and female adults. This MetaFAQs report profiles American Nintendo game console users by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group and age within gender, employment status, household size, and life stage. Further, it details the percentage who use a VR headset and those who play games with a smartphone, PC, gaming PC, or tablet. Also, it reports on the competitive mix, with the percentage of American Nintendo game console users using Sony and Microsoft game consoles.
American game players and their technology
Playing games with connected devices is widespread among American adults, while only a subset use game-focused equipment such as gaming PCs, gaming consoles, or VR headsets. This TUPdate reports on the share of adults regularly playing immersive/video or other games using their smartphones, PCs, or tablets, comparing them to the adoption rates of game-focused equipment.
Profile of American Sony game console users
Nearly a quarter of online Americans use a Sony game console, a higher penetration rate than competitors. Usage is most substantial among the youngish males, dropping off steeply above age 44. This MetaFAQs report profiles American Sony game console users by several critical demographic and behavioral factors distinctive from the average American online adult: age group, gender, age within gender, employment status, presence of children, household size, and life stage. Further, it details the percentage who use a VR headset and those who play games with a smartphone, PC, gaming PC, or tablet. It reports on American Sony game console users’ competitive position by those who additionally use Nintendo and Microsoft game consoles.
VR headset adoption
VR headsets are slowly and unsteadily working their way onto the heads of online adults. This TUPdate shows how penetration has expanded (and contracted) since 2018. By reviewing the activities that VR headset users do with their other connected devices – smartphones, PCs, tablets, or game consoles – this TUPdate profiles just who these VR headset early adopters are. Their creative, fun, collaborative, and educational activities point the way to possible hotspots of VR headset adoption.