Most gamers play between 2-5 titles. This concentration means that aggregators, and game store fronts, should prioritise a curated selection and regularly rotate highlighted titles to serve this core segment.
UK
Gaming
Consumer Insights
simple
UK Gaming Consumer: 2025
"Handheld gaming is dominating new releases in 2025. As gaming shifts to digital distribution and device-agnostic platforms, major franchises thrive, but smaller titles may struggle for visibility."
Mintel’s research finds that most UK gamers play between 2-5 titles. This concentration means that aggregators, and game store fronts, should prioritise a curated selection and regularly rotate highlighted titles to serve this core segment. This optimises discovery and eases switching between games, while reducing choice overload.
Over 70% of gamers play fewer than five games, and this points to market concentration. Large franchises release more content, potentially stifling innovation and new game design for diverse audiences. This risks gaming becoming homogeneous, with big franchises thriving on loyal players and steady revenue from updates, sequels, or expansions, while new games struggle to break through.
The shift to digital game distribution will continue as digital downloads and cloud gaming continue to grow at the expense of physical games. Gaming will also become more device-agnostic, with traditional consoles under threat from play across computers, handhelds and mobile.
Key Topics Covered in the Report
The ownership of hardware specifically for gaming, including laptops, desktops, games consoles, handhelds and VR headsets
Frequency of playing and watching video games across devices, with the accessibility of mobile gaming driving daily use
Gaming related purchasing with nearly half of consumers paying for some form of gaming content or activity
Behaviours, preferences and demographics of consumers who play, and pay for video games and gaming content
Methods of discovering video games, with social media playing a vital role
Attitudes towards video gaming, including a look at the role competitiveness and personal achievement play in driving gaming engagement
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for gaming
Opportunities
Distribution changes and cross platform play will cement gaming’s place beyond the console
Tap into consumers’ appetite for watching and playing games with hybrid content
Mintel Spark imagines a new hybrid gaming entertainment format
Gaming is an art form allowing for authentic brand interactions
THE MARKET
Market drivers
Despite improvement in financial sentiment, consumers are still cautious
Graph 1: index of financial sentiment in the next year, 2016-25
Challenger brands could have an opportunity in tariff uncertainty
Graph 2: behaviour if usual product/brand wasn’t available, 2025
Consoles still affected by supply chain issues and plateauing demand
Government aims to turbocharge UK games development
AI will impact both game development and discovery
Gaming continues to become more accessible with hardware barriers being broken down
Market background
Computers versatility makes them key gaming devices
Sony is market leader in static consoles
Graph 3: ownership of static games consoles, 2025
Promote seamless cross-save and remote play of handhelds
Opportunity for computer manufacturers to offer future proofing of devices
THE CONSUMER
Gaming frequency
Mobile gaming drives daily play
Gaming activity is higher on consumers’ most owned technology devices
Graph 4: frequency of video game playing past three months, by device, 2025
Young men in the habit of watching gaming content
Interactive play-alongs can drive hybrid viewing and playing sessions
Graph 5: frequency of watching gaming content past three months, 2025
Broad foundation for gaming content amongst young people
Paid gaming content
In-app purchases are the entry points for monetisation
Graph 6: gaming content paid for in the past three months, 2025
Digital-first subscription models will drive the gaming market
Twitch’s dedicated gaming audience drives purchasing across all categories
Game discovery
Social channels are the shopfront for gaming discovery
Graph 7: game discovery methods, past three months, 2025
Retail stores place in the ecosystem is changing – sell the tools to help gamers level up
Leverage your expertise to create a vibrant gaming experience
Online gaming stores should focus on a handful of key titles to maximise engagement
Graph 8: number of games consumers have played in the past three months, 2025
Women are more likely than men to play only one game
Discovery and engagement features are key to appeal to active gamers
Graph 9: % of time spent playing favourite game in the past three months, 2025
Gaming behaviours
Nostalgia has bankable appeal in the cross play social age
Graph 10: gaming behaviours, 2025
Build the hype around new releases with game related events and films
Graph 11: gaming behaviours, 2025
Drive pre orders with premium content and brand activations
Attitudes towards gaming
Rethink gaming’s emotional and cultural appeal beyond entertainment
Give competitive gamers the tools for the job
Graph 12: attitudes towards video gaming, 2025
Let the games begin
Use the social camaraderie of gaming for increased interaction and loyalty
Graph 13: attitudes towards video gaming, 2025
PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING
Launch activity and innovation
Nintendo launches its long awaited Switch follow up
Microsoft finally enters the handheld market in partnership with Asus
Competition is hotting up in the PC handheld space
Innovation drives gaming gaming PCs to new heights
NVIDIA chips pushing premium laptop gaming to new highs
VR headsets, controllers and new distribution methods increase gaming’s reach
Breakthrough games hit different gaming segments
Advertising and marketing
2025’s advertising driven by social campaigns
Graph 14: total above-the-line, online display, social media and direct mail advertising on game downloads, games hardware, games software, mobile apps – games and consoles & pre owned games and consoles, 2021-25
Nintendo spends big with Switch 2 support
Graph 15: total above-the-line, online display, social media and direct mail advertising on game downloads, games hardware, games software, mobile apps – games and consoles & pre owned games and consoles of top 10 advertisers, 2025
Microsoft out of home campaign reframes Xbox as a service
Sony drives strong monetisation via PlayStation Network
Graph 16: avg customer total spend and avg spend per transaction, 12 months to October 2025
APPENDIX
Market definition
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
Other data source methodologies
Mintel Spark
Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
Snoop SpendMapper methodology
Abbreviations
Abbreviations and terms – 1
Abbreviations and terms – 2
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