US Dedicated Console Gaming Market Report 2020
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Description
“2020 is a transition year between console generations, capped off by the releases of the PS5 and Xbox Series X at the end of the year. A volatile market will see huge interest from a dedicated console gaming audience looking for an upgraded (but still familiar) gaming experience from the brands and games that they are loyal to. New games and upgraded formats should propel interest in console gaming into the next generation of devices.”
– John Poelking, Senior Gaming Analyst
This report will look at the following areas:
- Next generation consoles will ride a wave of hype in 2020
- Action genres, developers differentiate console gameplay
- Brand loyalty and hardware matter
Table of Contents
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Overview
- What you need to know
- Definition
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Executive Summary
- What you need to know about console gaming in 2020
- Console market overview
- Figure 1: Total US unit sales of video game consoles, 2014-20
- Three key players: PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo
- Figure 2: Type of console used, November 2019
- Top takeaways
- Key trends
- Next generation consoles will ride a wave of hype in 2020
- Figure 3: Interest in purchasing next generation of consoles, all vs console players, November 2019
- Action genres, developers differentiate console gameplay
- Figure 4: Developers played, all vs console gamers, November 2019
- Brand loyalty and hardware matter
- Figure 5: Brand loyalty and the importance of hardware, all gamers vs console gamers, November 2019
- What it means
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The Market – What You Need to Know
- Console market gears up for next generation
- Three main console brands had different results in the latest generation
- The gaming audience is dedicated and diverse
- Console cycles supported by home entertainment investments
- Gaming is increasingly important for gamers
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Market Size
- Console market reflects peaks and valleys due to generational release cycle
- Figure 6: Total US unit sales of video game consoles, 2014-20
- Console market reflects peaks and valleys due to generational release cycle
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Market Breakdown
- PlayStation
- Figure 7: Total US unit sales of PlayStation consoles, 2014-19
- Xbox
- Figure 8: Total US unit sales of Xbox consoles, 2014-19
- Nintendo
- Figure 9: Total US unit sales of Nintendo consoles, 2014-19
- PlayStation
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The US Gamer: Who They Are and How They Play
- Who are gamers?
- Figure 10: Profile of US gamers, by key demographics, November 2019
- Mobile attracts the most attention
- Figure 11: Gaming devices, November 2019
- Gamers game all the time
- Figure 12: Frequency of gaming and weekly hours, November 2019
- Casual gaming is common
- Figure 13: Reasons to play video games, November 2019
- Puzzle and board games have the biggest audience
- Figure 14: Favorite gaming genres ranked, October 2019
- Who are gamers?
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Market Factors
- Console release cycles drive direction of hardware sales
- Affordable HD TVs are in most homes
- Figure 15: Types of TVs owned, August 2019
- Most homes invest in high speed internet
- Figure 16: Home internet source, July 2019
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Market Perspective
- Gaming is more competitive with other entertainment
- Figure 17: Gaming vs other entertainment, 2015-19
- Half of parents play video games with their kids
- Figure 18: Time spent on gaming with kids, August 2019
- Gaming is more competitive with other entertainment
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Key Players – What You Need to Know
- Different brands for different console gamers
- Services are a key area of focus
- Some old and new gaming models struggle as audiences disappear
- Preparing for the future of console gaming
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PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo
- PlayStation (Sony)
- Current console: PS4
- The gamer
- Figure 19: Profile of PlayStation players, by key demographics, November 2019
- What happened in 2019
- What’s coming in 2020
- Figure 20: Estimated specifications of PS5
- Xbox (Microsoft)
- Current console: Xbox One
- The gamer
- Figure 21: Profile of Xbox players, by key demographics, November 2019
- What happened in 2019
- What’s coming in 2020
- Figure 22: Estimated specifications of Xbox Series X
- Nintendo
- Current console: Nintendo Switch
- The gamer
- Figure 23: Profile of Nintendo players, by key demographics, November 2019
- What happened in 2019
- What’s coming in 2020
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What’s Working
- Switch, PS4 hit milestones in 2019
- Building up subscription offerings
- Figure 24: Awareness and interest in console subscription services, October 2019
- Remote play challenges the cloud
- Boosting the streaming platform
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What’s Struggling
- Handheld devices give way to hybrids
- Figure 25: @alienware “Concept UFO” Instagram post, January 2020
- Rental market takes a hit
- Selling a digital-exclusive model
- Few standout games in 2019
- Handheld devices give way to hybrids
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What to Watch
- Making greener consoles
- Broadening the idea of “exclusive”
- Heading to the cloud
- Figure 26: Awareness and interest in cloud gaming services, October 2019
- Bumping up VR content
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The Consumer – What You Need to Know
- Dedicated hardcore gamers overrepresented in console gaming
- Games for two groups of consoles
- Console gamers are looking to buy
- Console gamers look to other gamers for hardware advice
- The next generation will be driven by a desire to upgrade
- Gaming accessories need to perform
- Positive perceptions and heavy play go hand in hand
- Familiarity creates hype for upcoming games
- Console gamers play differently
- New (but familiar) experiences are important to console gamers
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Console Gamer Overview
- Active console gamers represent typical gaming demographics
- Figure 27: Profile of active console gamers, by key demographics, November 2019
- PlayStation has slight edge on competition
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- Figure 28: Type of console used, November 2019
- Many console players are brand and device loyal
- Figure 29: Number of consoles and brands used, November 2019
- Active console gamers represent typical gaming demographics
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Gaming Genres and Devices
- PlayStation and Xbox
- Nintendo
- Figure 30: Correspondence analysis – Symmetrical map – Perceptions of gaming devices, November 2019
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Hardware Purchase Intent
- Interest in current generation of consoles remains
- Figure 31: Gaming console purchase intent, all vs console players, November 2019
- Xbox, pro console players look to invest in consoles
- Figure 32: Gaming console purchase intent, by type of console played, November 2019
- Other gaming devices don’t attract as much interest
- Figure 33: Other gaming device purchase intent, all vs console players, November 2019
- Console gamers will bulk up their home systems
- Figure 34: TV and speaker purchase intent, all vs console players, November 2019
- Interest in current generation of consoles remains
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Gaming Hardware Purchase Influencers
- Reviews, gaming influencers go a long way with console gamers
- Figure 35: Gaming hardware purchase influencers, by gamers vs console players, November 2019
- Pro console players need hardware tested by gamers
- Figure 36: Gaming hardware purchase influencers, by gamers and pro console players, November 2019
- Gamers will influence the sale of next generation consoles
- Figure 37: Gaming hardware purchase influencers, by interest in next generation consoles, November 2019
- Reviews, gaming influencers go a long way with console gamers
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Next Generation Consoles
- Half of console players plan to buy new consoles
- Figure 38: Interest in purchasing next generation of consoles, all vs console players, November 2019
- PlayStation, Xbox gamers ready to upgrade
- Figure 39: Interest in purchasing next generation of consoles, by type of console played, November 2019
- Power will be a key selling point for new consoles
- Memory, brand important for potential buyers
- Key opportunity: exclusive games for console players
- Figure 40: Reasons to purchase a next generation console, all vs console gamers, November 2019
- Nintendo players want games, Xbox just want something different
- Figure 41: Reasons to purchase a next generation console, by brand of console played, November 2019
- New consoles won’t change minds of non-gamers
- Figure 42: Reasons not to purchase a next generation console, November 2019
- Half of console players plan to buy new consoles
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Gaming Accessories
- Better controls necessary for a good console experience
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- Figure 43: Interest and ownership in controls, November 2019
- Brighten the home with other gaming accessories
- Figure 44: Interest and ownership in miscellaneous accessories, November 2019
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Perceptions of Game Developers
- Reputation matters to console gamers
- Figure 45: Attitudes toward brand reputations, November 2019
- Developers fight for attention in crowded landscape
- Figure 46: Perceptions and use of game developers, November 2019
- Console preferences highlight partner opportunities
- Figure 47: Developers played, all vs console gamers, November 2019
- PlayStation and Xbox players attract similar interests
- Figure 48: Developers played, by type of console played, November 2019
- Reputation matters to console gamers
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Reasons to Try a New Game
- Franchises, gamer recommendations go a long way for console players
- Figure 49: Reasons to try a new game, all vs console gamers, November 2019
- Console brands need to differentiate game advertising
- Figure 50: Reasons to try a new game, by type of console played, November 2019
- Franchises, gamer recommendations go a long way for console players
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Console Gaming Behaviors and Preferences
- Console gamers spend more across multiple titles
- Figure 51: Playing different games at a time, all gamers vs console gamers, November 2019
- Good hardware and brand loyalty matter
- Figure 52: Brand loyalty and the importance of hardware, all gamers vs console gamers, November 2019
- PlayStation, Xbox gamers look under the hood
- Figure 53: The importance of hardware, by type of console played, November 2019
- Console gamers spend more across multiple titles
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Attitudes toward Gaming and Consoles
- Cross-platform gameplay boosts appeal for cloud gaming
- Figure 54: Attitudes toward cloud gaming, November 2019
- Social console gaming builds community
- Figure 55: Attitudes toward social gaming, November 2019
- Console gamers say new is better
- Figure 56: Attitudes toward new devices, November 2019
- Different brands seek new ways to enter the future
- Figure 57: Attitudes toward new gaming experiences, by type of console played, November 2019
- Cross-platform gameplay boosts appeal for cloud gaming
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
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Appendix – The Market
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- Figure 58: Total US unit sales of video game consoles, by console, 2014-19
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Appendix – Correspondence Analysis
- Methodology
- Figure 59: Correspondence Analysis – Principal map – Perceptions of gaming devices, November 2019
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- Figure 60: Perceptions of gaming devices, November 2019
- Methodology
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Appendix – The Consumer
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- Figure 61: When players buy games, by console brand, April 2018-June 2019
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- Figure 62: Types of games played most, by console brand, April 2018-June 2019
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- Figure 63: Number of games bought in the last year, by console brand, April 2018-June 2019
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- Figure 64: eSports viewing, by console brand, April 2018-June 2019
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- Figure 65: Renting games, by console brand, April 2018-June 2019
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About the report
This market report provides in-depth analysis and insight supported by a range of data. At the same time, introductory and top-level content is provided to give you an overview of the issues covered.
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Data
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