In the dynamic world of gaming, Canada's industry is set to flourish remarkably in 2025. Despite facing economic hurdles like inflation and US tariffs, the sector substantially contributes to the…
Canada
Gaming
Influencers
simple
Canada Gaming Influencers and Streamers Market Report 2025
In the dynamic world of gaming, Canada's industry is set to flourish remarkably in 2025. Despite facing economic hurdles like inflation and US tariffs, the sector substantially contributes to the GDP and is on a trajectory to expand from $11.69 billion in 2024 to $20.27 billion by 2030.
Canada’s gaming industry thrives despite challenges, fueled by streamers and cloud gaming
Market drivers
Costs remain elevated for Canadians
Graph 1: consumer price index, 2025
March CPI trends: lower gas and mobile costs offer savings for content creators
Canadians are struggling to feed their families, power their vehicles and heat their homes
Graph 2: issues that have been affecting Canadians over the past two months, 2024
How Canada’s tech and media brands can use AI to adapt to value-driven consumers in uncertain times
Graph 3: household saving rate, Q1 2020 – Q4 2024
How multiculturalism is shaping the future of Canada’s gaming industry
Graph 4: proportion of visible minority in Canada, 1981 – 2036
Unlocking opportunities: how the game industry can engage and empower seniors
Graph 5: population aged 0-14 and 65+, 2000-40 (projected)
CONSUMER INSIGHTS
Setting the stage: gaming in 2025
Gaming is a mainstream hobby; opportunites abound for influencers and brands in this $200 BN industry
Content creators are adapting to the rise in popularity of mobile games
Graph 6: gaming formats played in the past three months, 2025
Mobile gamers flock to short-form content that consumers can access on their smartphones while playing
Gaming’s growing diversity: opportunities for influencers and brands
Graph 7: frequency of playing video games, 2025
A higher proportion of traditional gamers play on mobile platforms than vice versa
Graph 8: played video games on mobile formats in the past three months, by those who have played video games on traditional formats, 2025
Graph 9: played video games on traditional formats in the past three months, by those who have played video games on mobile formats, 2025
Leveraging multi-platform IPs: how gaming brands and influencers can bridge console and mobile gaming
Gaming consoles in Canada: opportunities for influencers across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and Steam Deck
Graph 10: console brands played video games on in the past three months, 2025
Likely due to multiplayer, a higher percentage of Xbox players have played PlayStation in the past three months than vice versa
Graph 11: console brands played video games on in the past three months, by console brands played video games on in the past three months, 2025
Gaming trends across generations: opportunities for influencers and brands
Graph 12: gaming formats played in the past three months, by age, 2025
Leveraging mobile engagement to reach consumers aged 55+
Graph 13: played video games on a tablet in the past three months, by age and gender, 2025
Graph 14: played video games on a mobile phone in the past three months, by age and gender, 2025
Men, in general, were more likely to play on traditional platforms
Graph 15: played video games on laptop/PC in the past three months, by age and gender, 2025
Graph 16: played video games on a static console in the past three months, by age and gender, 2025
Inclusivity in handheld gaming: engaging a growing audience of women 18-34
Graph 17: played video games on a handheld console in the past three months, by age and gender, 2025
Gaming breaks stereotypes: how brands and influencers can tap into a diverse, growing audience
Graph 18: play video games daily, by age and gender, 2025
Diversity beyond gender: how brands and influencers can connect with Black, Chinese and South Asian Audiences
Graph 19: gaming formats played in the past three months, by race, 2025
Social media channel usage
Three quarters of gamers watch video game content on social media
YouTube is, by far and away, the top platform consumers go to for gaming content
Graph 20: platforms used to watch video game content, 2025
Other social media platforms are evolving to capture the gaming audience and compete with YouTube
Nearly all younger male gamers watch gaming content
Graph 21: “I don’t watch video game content,” by age and gender, 2025
While nearly all gaming content consumption declines with age, various platforms have distinct gender differences
Graph 22: platforms used to watch gaming content, by gender, 2025
Black and South Asian consumers are highly engaged with gaming content
Graph 23: platforms used to watch gaming content, Black and South Asian gamers vs overall, 2025
Younger men don’t feel that short-form content is good for gaming content
Graph 24: short form content isn’t good for video game content (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Solidifying engagement strategies: content consumption habits are unlikely to change
Graph 25: my social media content viewing habits haven’t changed much over the past five years (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Gaming content topic preferences
Reviews, walkthroughs, gaming news and challenges are the most popular gaming content categories
Graph 26: types of gaming content typically watched, 2025
Consumers are less interested in consuming product unboxings, lore videos and influencer livestreams/live-chats
When asked directly, consumers reported being more partial to pre-recorded over live content
Graph 27: watching preference for video game content, by age, 2025
Nearly two-thirds of consumers don’t see the appeal of watching someone else play video games
Graph 28: “I don’t understand why someone would rather watch video game content on social media than play the video games themselves” (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Among those that do watch gameplay online, six-in-ten prefer watch more content of games they already play
Graph 29: types of gaming content watched, 2025
Interest in reviews spans age and gender, making it safer content to make and market on due to wider engagement and reach
Graph 30: types of gaming content typically watched, by age, 2025
Tailoring content strategies for diverse gaming communities: insights into Black and South Asian gamers
Graph 31: types of gaming content typically consumed (select), Black and South Asian gamers vs overall, 2025
Consumers are opening up to the idea of consuming AI content on social media
Graph 32: AI content can be just as interesting as human-made content (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Gaming content creation: personalities and subscriptions
Older consumers are more likely to look for information via gaming content, while younger consumers are looking for entertainment
Graph 33: follow creators for content versus personality, by age, 2025
Younger women are more likely to follow individuals on social media over curated content groups
Graph 34: “I prefer to follow individuals on social media”, by age and gender, 2025
Subscriptions, as a metric, may matter less than one might think
Graph 35: watching subscription versus algorithm-curated content, by age, 2025
Only about one-third of consumers support the influencers they follow monetarily
Graph 36: “I have financially supported the social media personalities I follow” (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Consumers still want a human element to their personalities, but younger men are significantly more open to AI
Graph 37: “I would follow an entirely AI-based social media personality” (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Black and South Asian consumers are significantly more interested in AI personalities and content
Graph 38: “I would follow an entirely AI-based social media personality” (% agree), by race, 2025
Thought leadership in the gaming space is no longer driven by traditional gaming media
Graph 39: “I value the opinions of gaming influencers over traditional digital publications” (% agree), by age, 2025
Gaming content creators: controversy and clicks
There is a wide swathe of negative behaviours that can turn an audience off of a content creator or influencer
Graph 40: content creator behaviours that could cause disengagement, 2025
Older consumers are more likely to find issues with influencers and streamers
Graph 41: content creator behaviours that could cause disengagement, by age, 2025
Women avoid negativity, along with provocative and offensive content
Graph 42: content creator behaviours that could cause disengagement (select), by gender, 2025
In fact, women aged 35-54 are more likely to appreciate gaming content creators taking a moral stand on popular social issues
Graph 43: “I enjoy when gaming content creators take a stand on social issues” (% agree), by age and gender, 2025
Conversely, younger men actively enjoy controversial gaming content
Graph 44: “I enjoy watching controversial video game content creators on social media” (% agree), by age and gender 2025
Black and South Asian gamers actively enjoy controversial gaming content
Graph 45: “I enjoy watching controversial video game content creators on social media” (% agree), Black and South Asian gamers vs overall, 2025
Black and South Asian consumers also enjoy when gaming creators take stands on social issues
Graph 46: “I enjoy when gaming content creators take a stand on social issues” (% agree), by race, 2025
South Asian gamers want more audience interaction
Graph 47: lack of audience interaction as a reason to consider unsubscribing, South Asian vs overall, 2025
Brands should simply let streaming be free marketing for their games – trying to put the genie back in the bottle can harm brand rep
Graph 48: game companies shouldn’t be allowed to issue copyright takedown notices to stop content creators from streaming their games (% agree), by age, 2025
Marketing and advertisement in the gaming space
Ads and ad-reads are generally safe for influencers to do without driving off their audience
Gaming content influencers have the power to drive sales
Influencers can also be great marketing tools for games themselves
The top ads seen on gaming content are, unsurprisingly, gaming-related
Graph 49: ads seen from a gaming influencer or streamer in the past 12 months, 2025
Specific games and consumables see some of the highest conversion rates
Graph 50: influencer ad conversion rate, 2025
Younger consumers are more likely to be, well, influenced by gaming influencers to purchase products
Graph 51: “I have bought this because of a gaming influencer ad/endorsement,” by age, 2025
The power of influencer marketing: unlocking opportunities with Black gamers and South Asian consumers
Graph 52: “I have bought this because of a gaming influencer ad/endorsement,” by race, 2025
COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES
Launch activity and innovation
AvatarOS allows brands and creators to utilize AI-driven virtual influencers
Roblox introduces video ads: balancing innovation, engagement and ethical concerns in gaming
Simon Fraser University launches Canada’s first university VTubers
Patreon is getting live streaming – competing directly with Twitch
OverActive media global esports expansion
Rockstar’s shift to UGC for GTA VI
Marketing and advertising
Keyword and SEO are incredibly important for gaming streamers and influencers; presence on networking sites equally important
Graph 53: daily social media usage, by platform, 2025
How gaming influencers can use social media to grow their audience in Canada
Graph 54: daily social media usage, by age, 2025
Ubisoft’s TikTok presence elevates its brand awareness and engagement with younger consumers
Influencer partnerships and hopping onto niche interests and trends – like ASMR – can be a good way to generate social engagement
How social media shapes video game sales: the good, the bad and the viral
In the dynamic world of gaming, Canada’s industry is set to flourish remarkably in 2025. Despite facing economic hurdles like inflation and US tariffs, the sector substantially contributes to the GDP and is on a trajectory to expand from $11.69 billion in 2024 to $20.27 billion by 2030. The mobile gaming sector is the frontrunner in this growth, heavily influenced by platforms such as YouTube, Twitch and TikTok that are reshaping consumer trends. The Canadian gaming audience is diverse, with notable participation from Black, Chinese and South Asian communities, and social media emerges as a key player, with 74% of gamers engaging with online content.
The report emphasizes the pivotal role of gaming influencers and streamers in shaping the industry. These content creators are trusted more than traditional media, especially among younger audiences who are more receptive to advertising and promotional content. Gaming influencers significantly sway purchasing decisions, particularly among younger demographics and diverse groups. Brands are thus encouraged to align with influencers who resonate with their values, focusing on inclusivity and social causes.
Innovative marketing strategies such as AI-driven influencers and immersive ads via platforms like Roblox are highlighted as integral to reaching engaged audiences. Moreover, the rise of live streaming as a marketing tool and the influence of social media on video game sales underscore the growing importance of digital landscapes in marketing. The report concludes by underlining the importance for influencers to adapt and leverage search engine optimization (SEO) and social media to connect with Canada’s varied gaming population effectively.
This report looks at the following areas:
Video gaming activity (eg platforms played, frequency, brands used)
Social media platforms used to watch video game content
Type of gaming content consumed and other content preferences
Products purchased due to gaming influencer promotions
Reasons why someone might unsubscribe from a gaming content creator
Engagement with social media content algorithms
Canada’s gaming landscape is revolutionized as influencers and streamers fuel industry growth, reshaping the market with emerging mobile and cloud technologies
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