For several years now, the way of consuming video games has evolved greatly, and video game enthusiasts can indulge in their passion in many ways today (on the living room TV, on a smartphone, on a portable console, on the Smart TV via cloud gaming, etc.). And even though it seems that video games are made to be “played“, this new study carried out by MIDiA Research brings to the fore a new profile of gamer, namely a gamer… who no longer plays. Or at least, more so”active“.
The difference between a good gamer and a bad gamer
Indeed, as part of a study carried out during the second half of 2023 and 2024, with players based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Sweden and Brazil, MIDiA Research indicates that the “gamer 2024” is more spectator than player.
Concretely, an average player would spend around 16 hours per week playing video games. However, this is not 16 hours of active gaming activity, as was the case on your PlayStation in the 90s. Of these 16 hours per week, a little more than 7 hours would be devoted to playing the game video, the rest (i.e. approximately 9 hours) being allocated… to watching video game content on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok…
A mainly “passive” consumption therefore, which can take the form of reviews viewed on YouTube or even gameplay sessions (the “Let’s Play“) which abound on the Google network, but also on Twitch. Also, many gamers prefer to watch a video game on a streaming platform, rather than playing it themselves. A trend that would particularly affect “young players“, the oldest preferring to consume the JV “like before“, thus playing. But while it is obvious that the best way to enjoy video games is to play them, alone or with family, there are not necessarily only negative things about enjoying video games passively.
And we remind you, once again, that video games are made to PLAY, to have fun alone or with family/friends 😊
(Ah, and by the way, you are not forced to only play “GOTY” and/or “+90 Metacritic” 😚)
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— Stéphane Ficca (@StephaneFicca) December 1, 2024
The question of “watch a video game” can in fact arise in the context of a purely narrative game, like Until Dawn for example, to cite a recent production. We can also imagine that a player decides to “look” such or such title, by being unable to play it (not the right console for example) or because the title in question arouses his curiosity, without the latter planning to acquire it . Gameplay sessions which can also prove very useful when you come across a puzzle, a boss or a portion that is too complicated.
Along the same lines, watch a “Let’s Play” the space of a few minutes can generally allow you to get a first idea of a newly marketed title, in order to consider purchasing it or not. And here again, if some are fond of commented game sessions, or even live with the possibility of discussing with the player via comments, others prefer to opt for a neutral gameplay video, without the slightest commentary.
Some will tell you that at the time, the good old “demos” made it possible to form a first opinion before considering a possible purchase (which had not bled the demos of Tony Hawk, Metal Gear Solid or even by Siphon Filter at the time?), but all that is like video game instructions, it was “Before“.
