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.
Virtual reality headset use among socioeconomic groups
VR headsets have received recent attention again after more than a decade of on-again/off-again experimentation with limited market acceptance. While the overall penetration rate of actively-used VR headsets has reached 5% for the first time in 2021, usage rates vary considerably across socioeconomic groups. Having the means to acquire all that’s needed to fully enjoy VR headsets isn’t the only factor affecting adoption as even some upper-income groups are only nominally further ahead than other less advantaged groups. The groups being reported consider age group, employment status, household size, ethnicity, presence of children, educational attainment, and other socioeconomic factors.
Profile of American game console users
Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, October 2, 2021
Profile of American game console users
- All online American adults who regularly use a game console
- They number 77 million – 35% of all online American adults
- Profiled by characteristics that are distinctive
- Only profiled by those characteristics which have an index of 80 or below and 120 and above – those which are 20% above or below the average by category
- Expressed as market penetration – the percentage of online adults within each group
- Distinctive characteristics profiles
- Age, age within gender
- Employment status
- Presence of children
- Household size
- Life stage (age, employment status, presence of children)
- Number of home PCs used
- Technology ecosystems
- Characteristics examined and not found to be distinct
- Educational attainment
Americans who regularly use a game console by age group
- Game console users skew younger
- Game console use is strongest among the youngest American adults
- Penetration among online Americans aged 18-34 is 58%-59%
- Beyond age 45, the rate drops steeply
Low scores – the decline of game-playing by Americans [MetaFAQs]
Americans use various connected devices to play games—but not as much as they used to. Since 2016, fewer Americans regularly play an immersive or other game with each passing year.
This MetaFAQs reports the trend in active use by online Americans by platform – game consoles, smartphones, PCs, and tablets – from 2016 through 2020. The research results showcase the TUP/Technology User Profile study, MetaFacts’ survey of a representative sample of online American adults profiling the full market’s use of technology products and services. The current wave of TUP is TUP/Technology User Profile 2020, which is TUP’s 38th annual.
Game console brands by age group [MetaFAQs]
Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, December 2, 2020 Do different age groups play favorites when it comes to game consoles? Do any brands stand out as being used more often by some age groups than others? This MetaFAQs answers these questions based on results from the 12,516 online adults responding to the MetaFacts TUP/Technology User…
Game console brands by country [MetaFAQs]
Dan Ness, Principal Analyst, MetaFacts, November 27, 2020 Which brand of game console is used by the most online adults in each country? This MetaFAQs answers that question, reporting on the market penetration of Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft game consoles. About MetaFAQs MetaFAQs are answers to frequently asked questions about technology users. The research results…
Game-playing trends – convenience gamers, dedicated gamers, and device-gamers [Highlights]
Overview Playing games is a regular activity for most adults whether using game consoles or gaming PCs, or any of their connected devices – mobile phones, tablets, or PCs. Convenience Gamers – those using only a connected device to play games – have near-equal market penetration to Dedicated Gamers – users of game consoles or…