2023
9
US Gaming Subscriptions Market Report 2023
2024-01-18T04:02:45+00:00
REP7CCF731C_51F0_446B_968A_273B55BB1AC6
3695
169698
[{"name":"Gaming","url":"https:\/\/store.mintel.com\/industries\/leisure-entertainment\/gaming"}]
Report
en_GB
Subscription gaming appears here to stay with deep roots in console multiplayer. Players enjoy them most for the value and quality games they bring to the table. Brian Benway,…
  1. /
  2. All Industries
  3. /
  4. Leisure and Entertainment
  5. /
  6. Gaming
  7. /
  8. US Gaming Subscriptions Market Report 2023

US Gaming Subscriptions Market Report 2023

Reports - What's Included
  • Multiple Report Formats
  • Access to our Clients Portal
  • Interactive Databook
  • Custom Presentation Tool

The US gaming subscription market is gaining serious traction in the US. With this report, you’ll know what gamers want from gaming subscriptions and why, giving you a data-backed edge. Below, we’ve summarized the key topics covered and offer hand-selected findings from the report.

Key Topics Covered

  • Trends impacting the video game subscription market.
  • Which subscriptions have gamers experienced, what did they keep or quit.
  • How satisfied are gamers with the subscription services they’ve used.
  • When gamers terminate service what factors most likely lead to that decision.
  • What standout preferences do gamers have towards the subscriptions they use.
  • How do gamers broadly perceive the various subscription services.

US Gaming Subscription Market Overview

Most gamers view subscription services positively, and this is mainly down to the quality and range of games. Cost is the primary reason for dinscontinuing service, but interestingly this occurs despite almost two-thirds stating contentment with the charges. This indicates that individual financial problems could be the underlying reason. While the gaming sector has shown concern about sales cannibalization, evidence indicates that subscribers continue to purchase games even after leaving services.

Gaming Subscription Consumer Insights

  • Looking at gaming subscription market share, Game Pass and Switch Online tail behind PlayStation Plus, which currently leads for the number of gamers subscribed to a service. Over a third of gamers are still not subscribed to any service, leaving plenty of room for growth.
  • Women gamers lag behind men on most services, except for Nintendo Switch Online where slightly more women subscribe than men, and Apple Arcade. With women gamers influenced by their social circles and motivated by the social aspects of gaming, services that offer more co-op games could muster more interest from women gamers.
  • Fathers are less likely to state that cost or bugs and technical issues are reasons for unsubscribing to a service. This demographic may live vicariously through their children, enjoying a turn or two on the latest games, thereby justifying the cost of the service. All gamers, even fathers, can’t brush aside server quality though, which is a dealbreaker.

For a complete analysis of gaming subscription services, buy the full report. You may also be interested to view our other gaming market research.

Additional Features Included in Your Report

  • Different Digital Formats: PDF for conveniently sharing with your team, PowerPoint for quickly including in your presentations.
  • Custom PowerPoints: Incorporate our consumer research data into your own work so you can win over your clients and stakeholders. Select insights from your report to create a custom presentation that is ready to download in minutes.
  • Interactive Databook: Each Databook is provided as an interactive website where you can deep dive into our consumer research data on your chosen topic so you can draw your own conclusions.
  • Mintel’s Clients Portal: Our portal provides instant access to actionable analysis, podcasts, and trend pieces relevant to your industry that are published almost daily, as well as our annual Global Consumer Trends. You can also browse our extensive library of market research reports.

Expert Analysis

Leading gaming analyst Brian Benway delivers expert industry insights with this in-depth report.

Subscription gaming appears here to stay with deep roots in console multiplayer. Players enjoy them most for the value and quality games they bring to the table.

Brian Benway - Gaming Analyst
Brian Benway
Research Analyst, Gaming and Entertainment

Collapse All
    • Key issues covered in this Report
  1. Executive Summary

  2. Consumer Insights

    • Consumer fast facts
    • Gaming subscriptions
    • Graph 1: gaming subscriptions, 2023
    • Graph 2: gaming subscriptions (NET any), by age and gender, 2023
    • Graph 3: gaming subscriptions, by age and gender, 2023
    • Graph 4: gaming subscriptions, by gender, 2023
    • Graph 5: gaming subscriptions (select), by race and Hispanic origin, 2023
    • Graph 6: canceled gaming subscriptions, among those who are not currently subscribed, 2023
    • Subscription satisfaction
    • Graph 7: overall subscription satisfaction, 2023
    • Graph 8: overall subscription satisfaction, by gamer segments, 2023
    • Graph 9: subscription feature satisfaction, 2023
    • Graph 10: subscription feature satisfaction, by subscription service, 2023
    • Termination factors
    • Graph 11: reasons to unsubscribe from a gaming subscription service, 2023
    • Graph 12: reasons to unsubscribe from a gaming subscription service, by subscription service 2023
    • Graph 13: reasons to unsubscribe from a gaming subscription service, men vs women, 2023
    • Graph 14: reasons to unsubscribe from a gaming subscription service (select), by gamer segments, 2023
    • Subscription preferences
    • Graph 15: subscription preferences, 2023
    • Graph 16: subscription preferences, 2023
    • Graph 17: subscription preferences (select), men vs women, 2023
    • Graph 18: subscription preferences, by parental status and gender, 2023
    • Graph 19: subscription preferences (select), by service subscribers, 2023
    • Perceptions of gaming subscriptions
    • Graph 20: perceptions of gaming subscriptions, 2023
    • Graph 21: “none of these” perceptions of gaming subscriptions, by gamer segments, 2023
    • Graph 22: “good value” perceptions of (select) gaming subscriptions, by gamer segments, 2023
    • Graph 23: “user-friendly” perceptions of (select) gaming subscriptions, by age and gender, 2023
    • Graph 24: “entertaining” perceptions of (select) gaming subscriptions, dads vs moms, 2023
    • Graph 25: “premium” perceptions of gaming subscriptions, by gamer segments, 2023
    • Graph 26: “disappointing” perceptions of (select) gaming subscriptions, by gamer segments, 2023
  3. Competitive Strategies

    • Launch activity and innovation
    • Marketing and advertising
    • Opportunities
  4. The Market

    • Market context
    • Market overview
    • Graph 27: global video game industry revenue, 2019-25
    • Graph 28: global video game industry revenue share, by device, 2023
    • Graph 29: Consumer Price Index change from previous period, 2020-23
    • Market drivers
  5. Appendix

    • The consumer
    • Graph 30: device usage, 2023
    • Graph 31: gaming frequency, 2023
    • Graph 32: gamer segments, 2023
    • Graph 33: gamer segments, by age, 2023
    • Graph 34: gamer segments, by gender, 2023
    • Graph 35: gamer segments, by device, 2023

Why Choose Mintel?

Mintel is the world’s leading market intelligence agency. We show you how consumers think today and tomorrow. As a trusted partner to industry leaders, we deliver game-changing insights to businesses across the globe, fuelling their marketing and innovation strategies that will shape the future.

Access high-quality market research with every purchase of Mintel’s consumer reports. Here’s what else is included in your report purchase:

  • Multiple Report Formats: Mintel’s reports are available in PDF and PPT formats, and are delivered straight to your inbox, so you can easily share Mintel’s market intelligence.
  • Access to Mintel’s Clients Portal: After your purchase is completed, you’ll receive an invitation to join Mintel’s Clients Portal, providing instant access to supplementary insights from Mintel’s industry experts.
  • Interactive Databook: Mintel’s bespoke consumer data is presented as an interactive website, so you can deep dive into your chosen topic, explore demographics and download specific statistics.
  • Custom Presentation Tool: Easily incorporate selected research data and analysis into a tailor-made presentation to win over clients and stakeholders.

Take a look at a sample PDF report below:

Please Note: All of the figures, graphs, and tables in this sample report have been redacted.
£ 3,695 (Excl.Tax)
  • Instant access when you pay by credit card
  • Save up to 20% when you purchase multiple reports
Buy now

Is this report right for you?

From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.

Find out more

Popular Related Reports

Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study 2024-25

£ 5,000£ 21,600

Mintel’s 2024-25 Global Outlook on Sustainability: A Consumer Study is designed to help you understand what brands and companies should prioritise in order to educate consumers and ensure...

Find out more

US Gaming Influencers and Streaming Consumer Report 2024

£ 3,695

59% of younger gamers, in the 18-34 age group, prefer YouTube as their social media platform, while older gamers lean towards Facebook. Instagram and TikTok are also popular,...

Find out more

US Mobile Gaming Market Report 2024

£ 3,695

The 2024 US mobile gaming market is experiencing steady growth, with players monthly spending showing resilience and growth, indicating increased normalization within mobile gaming. The sector appeals to...

Find out more

US Gaming Franchises: Brand Opportunities Report 2024

£ 3,695

More than 60% of US adults who play video games have purchased gaming-branded or partnered products, indicating strong consumer interest in gaming merchandise. The growing influence of gaming...

Find out more

US Multicultural Adults and Gaming Consumer Report 2024

£ 3,695

Black and Hispanic adults are frequent gamers who strongly identify with the gamer label, making gaming a key lifestyle aspect. While character customization is crucial for Black gamers,...

Find out more

US Teen and Tween Gaming Consumer Report 2024

£ 3,695

Don't let your Skibidi gyatt pay the Fanum tax for weak Ohio rizz. You need a no cap rizzler with sigma Gen Z and Alpha battlepass drip, my...

Find out more

Trusted by global industry leaders

We have such a great working relationship with Mintel on lots of different levels. As an insight partner, they have helped us to develop our business planning in specific categories as well as supporting our creative process but they’ve also been super helpful with facilitating our events in their inspirational offices near St Paul’s.

They’re an innovative company, with a client-focused team that always delivers.

Abby Carvosso, Group Managing Director, Bauer Media Group

At Jackman, we believe that powerful strategies are based on human insight. Mintel’s leading-edge reports and insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors are an important input as we develop and execute strategy.

Alana Gavin, VP Research and Insights, Jackman

There is no question that Mintel is the go-to resource for the best quality market research, but I did not think it was an affordable option for Abacus Marketing to consider. As a small marketing agency, we only work with a few new clients each year.

However, we have a very high-end consultative approach to our work, so we really do need a partner like Mintel to provide the big agency experience we are always aiming to deliver. Our clients come from an incredibly diverse range of industry sectors, so we obviously need access to market research reports from a very wide spectrum of marketplaces – and that is precisely what we got.

Stephen Taylor-Brown, Managing Director, Abacus

One of the biggest challenges we face is the need to get smart on a business or category real quick.

We are talking to clients who live and breathe their category every day and the expectation is that we will be able to get caught up very quickly, and bring the thinking that can help them.

We need to do that often in a matter of days, so it’s not a small ask. Mintel gives us a very articulate view of category conditions and does so at the speed we need it.

Jeff White, Business Development Director, Deutsch

We’ve found it so useful working more closely with Mintel. They helped support our recent flagship event for our top suppliers by providing a really unique viewpoint on the future of online retailing.

Nick Carroll from their Retail Team was also an excellent panelist, sharing useful and actionable consumer insights. We definitely look forward to working with Mintel again on future projects.

Zac Steele, E-Commerce Trading Development Manager, Waitrose & Partners

Is this report right for you?

From consumer reports to customised growth strategies. We have an option to suit your business requirements.

Find out more