The potential impact of proposed US tariffs and the growing influence of AI technology in gaming highlight the need for strategic innovation and adaptability among industry stakeholders.
US Gaming Industry Analysis – Current Landscape
Growing excitement within the US gaming industry is especially noticeable among women, older players, and of course, younger men, showing just how diverse and widespread the gaming community has become.
Although US consumer spending on video games/gaming hardware has been projected to decline slightly, the sector remains strong, driven by growth in gaming content and accessories.
Current trends in the gaming industry offer opportunities for expansion, particularly with the increasing demand for advanced graphics technology like new Nvidia’s 50 series graphics cards.
Gaming Industry Trends and Statistics
- US Gaming Market Size: The US gaming industry is poised for a major surge in engagement by 2025, with 27% of gamers expressing plans to dedicate more time to gaming in the coming year.
- US Gaming Industry Trends: Mobile gaming continues to lead in revenue share, with a recorded 2.1% year-on-year growth.
US Gaming Industry Research – What’s Inside?
Key Topics Analysed in this Report
- Detailed analysis of current trends in the gaming industry and market dynamics.
- Insights into consumer spending and gaming habits.
- Examination of gaming hardware and software purchasing behaviors.
- Analysis of gaming-related legal and political trends.
- Discussion on the impact of AI and technology on the US gaming industry.
- Evaluation of US gaming industry predictions.
Meet the Expert Behind the Analysis
This report is written by Brian Benway, Senior Analyst. As a Gaming Analyst, Brian researches and analyzes the video game industry across genres and platforms. Brian has been with Mintel since 2017. His educational background in Game Design and Animation informs his expertise and consumer insights in the gaming sector.
The US gaming industry is changing due to tech and societal trends. Despite challenges and job losses, the industry is adapting, promising a positive outlook for the next few years.
Brian Benway
Senior Analyst – Tech & Gaming
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Global video game market size
- Market predictions
- Growing interest in gaming among casual audiences is great news
- Hardware and software purchase behavior hasn’t changed much
- Gamers are interested in new tech and trends, but aren’t fully committing
- Gamers cautious but hopeful on the future with AI in gaming
- Opportunities
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MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market context
- The US is expected to have grown by 2.3% in Q4 2024
- Graph 1: quarterly real GDP growth, 2021-24
- Annual inflation slightly rose in November
- Graph 2: headline CPI and core CPI, 2021-24
- Consumer sentiment fell by 4% from December
- Graph 3: consumer sentiment index, 2022-25
- Households’ outlooks on their personal finances remains bullish
- Graph 4: opinions on financial future, 2024
- Graph 5: income growth in the past 12 months, by financial outlook, 2024
- Gaming market
- Global video gaming revenue is forecasted for slow and steady growth of 3.1%
- Graph 6: global video game industry revenue, 2019-26
- 2.1% year-on-year growth, console declines while PC and mobile grow
- Graph 7: global video game industry revenue share (% billions), by device, 2024
- US game industry 2024 sales
- And the 2024 game sales
- Market drivers
- 13th annual Game Developers Conference report highlights what is top of mind for game devs
- Gaming-related legal trends to be aware of in 2025
- Video game industry ties to China shaken amid rising political tension
- Genshin Impact to pay $20 million to settle FTC complaint
- GTA 6 shouldering others aside with a single trailer
- One man’s fight against gaming industry layoffs earns a standing ovation at the game awards
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Consumer Insights
- Consumer fast facts
- Gaming time comparison
- Growing interest in gaming among casual audiences is great news
- Graph 8: plan to spend more, the same, or less time playing video games in 2025 compared to 2024, 2019-24
- Gamers will continue to game in 2025
- Graph 9: plan to spend more, the same, or less time playing video games in 2025 compared to 2024, by gender, 2024
- New devices in 2025 will find eager audiences looking for more gaming
- Graph 10: plan to spend more time playing video games in 2025 compared to 2024, by gaming device used, 2024
- Players’ time isn’t dramatically changing; most spend less than two hours per day gaming
- Graph 11: average time spent playing games per week in hours, 2019-24
- Younger male audiences remain highly committed, but focusing exclusively on this audience limits appeal and risks oversaturation for marketers
- Graph 12: average time spent playing games per week in hours, by age, 2024
- Engaging with gaming-related side content is growing at a slow pace
- Graph 13: average time spent engaged with gaming content per week in hours, 2019-24
- Gaming has broad appeal, but the side content is a younger person’s activity
- Graph 14: average time spent engaged with gaming content per week in hours, by age, 2024
- Purchasing behavior in the past year
- Hardware and software purchase behavior hasn’t shifted much since last year
- Graph 15: gaming products/services purchased in the past 12 months, 2024
- Great news, all products/services hold steady
- Graph 16: gaming products/services purchased in the past 12 months, 2021-24
- Mobile gaming represents the largest part of the industry, but mobile players are not the most engaged
- Graph 17: gaming products/services purchased in the past 12 months, by Mintel gamer segments – device and frequency, 2024
- Younger gamers are the most likely to invest in new hardware
- Graph 18: new gaming hardware purchased in the past 12 months, by age, 2024
- Physical games aren’t going anywhere yet, but younger gamers are more accepting of digital purchases
- Graph 19: single copy games purchased in the past 12 months, by age, 2024
- Gender differences are less pronounced among younger gamers
- Graph 20: gaming products/services purchased in the past 12 months, by age, 2024
- Subscriptions continue to face an uphill battle converting and keeping players
- Graph 21: attitudes toward subscription services (% agree), by age, 2024
- Remakes and remasters
- Gamers are willing to afford studios a great deal of flexibility in remake timing
- Graph 22: opinions on remakes and remastered games, 2024
- Older men drive attitudes against remakes and remasters; keeping their favorite games available should help
- Graph 23: opinions on remakes and remastered games, by gender, 2024
- Remakes and remasters need more than just a fresh coat of paint
- Graph 24: opinions on remakes and remastered games, by age, 2024
- Preorders are down on fear of flops, but physical media and bonuses could help
- Graph 25: attitudes toward preorders (% agree), by gender, 2024
- Interest in modern gaming trends
- The average gamer isn’t looking for an industry-wide revolution in play
- Graph 26: interest in modern gaming trends, 2024
- Naturally, there are some standouts with significantly less interest
- Graph 27: interest in souls-like and NFTS/blockchain games, 2024
- While it looks like men dominate interest, there are some nuances to explore
- Graph 28: interest in modern gaming trends, by gender, 2024
- Gaming genres have more interest among younger players, while tech trends are more broadly interesting
- Graph 29: interest in modern gaming trends, by age, 2024
- Players aren’t ready to fully commit to an all-digital gaming future
- Graph 30: attitudes toward digital gaming (% agree), by age, 2024
- Mobile gamers less interested in chasing the latest gaming trends
- Graph 31: interest in modern gaming trends, by gaming device usage, 2024
- Erosion of trust after a bad purchase experiences
- One bad game won’t make most players completely stop supporting a company
- Graph 32: bad purchase experiences and erosion of trust, 2024
- Younger gamers have more to say about remakes and remasters
- Graph 33: bad purchase experiences and erosion of trust, by age, 2024
- Live services may be compounding troubles caused by recent gaming flops
- Graph 34: attitudes toward gaming purchase experiences (% agree), by age, 2024
- High gaming frequency carries nuances that vary greatly and shape reactions
- Graph 35: bad purchase experiences and erosion of trust, daily gamers vs overall, 2024
- Attitudes toward AI and video games
- Gamers share a cautious but hopeful outlook on the role of AI in gaming
- Graph 36: attitudes toward AI and video games (% agree), 2024
- Addressing skepticism with clear examples of AI’s benefits could help foster wider acceptance among gamers
- Graph 37: attitudes toward AI and video games (% agree), by gender, 2024
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
- Launch activity and innovation
- Nvidia still riding high on AI hype and continues to double down
- Infinity Nikki puts an engaging spin on cozy dress-up gaming
- Marketing and advertising
- Embracing strategies that align with consumer values and support their lives
- Gaming as advertising facilitates engaging and immersive connections with audiences
- LEGO announces Nintendo Gameboy collaboration
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Appendix
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology
- Generations
- Abbreviations and terms
- US video game consumers
- Gaming devices usage
- Graph 38: gaming devices usage, 2024
- Console brand usage
- Graph 39: console brand usage, 2024
- Gaming frequency
- Graph 40: gaming frequency, 2024
- Mintel gamer segments – motivations
- Graph 41: Mintel gamer segments – motivations, 2024
- Top reasons for playing video games, aside from the entertainment value
- Graph 42: top reasons for playing video games, aside from the entertainment value, 2024
- Gamer segments – Achievers and Explorers
- Gamer segments – Socializers and Competitors
- Mintel gamer segments – device and frequency
- Graph 43: Mintel gamer segments – device and frequency, 2024
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