The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 75% increase in gaming usage worldwide, according to a report by SuperData. The increase has been driven by people seeking entertainment and social interaction during times of social distancing and isolation. Mobile gaming has seen the largest increase in usage while console gaming and PC gaming also saw increases. Sales of video games in the United States have increased by 30% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in the previous year, with hardware, software, and accessories all seeing significant growth. It remains unclear how the industry will be impacted in the long term.
COVID-19 Impacts Gaming Habits, Sales Spike by 30%
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant impact on the global economy, with the gaming industry being no exception. With millions of people stuck at home due to lockdowns and social distancing measures, there has been a surge in demand for video games, leading to a spike in sales by 30%.
The Increase in Gaming Habits
According to a recent report published by SuperData, a market research company specializing in gaming, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 75% increase in gaming usage worldwide. This surge has been mainly driven by people who are seeking entertainment and social interaction during a time of social distancing and isolation.
The report also shows that mobile gaming has seen the largest increase in usage, with a 45% increase in the number of active players, followed by console gaming, which has seen a 39% increase, and PC gaming, which has seen a 29% increase.
The Impact on Sales
The increase in gaming habits has resulted in a significant spike in sales for the gaming industry. According to the NPD Group, a leading market research company in the gaming industry, video game sales in the United States have increased by 30% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in the previous year.
The report shows that sales of hardware, software, and accessories have all seen significant growth. Hardware sales have increased by 2%, software sales have increased by 34%, and accessories sales have increased by 12%.
The Future of Gaming
The gaming industry has experienced a significant boost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains unclear how this will affect the future of the industry. It is possible that the surge in demand for gaming will continue beyond the pandemic as people have become accustomed to the convenience and entertainment of gaming. However, it is also possible that the industry will experience a decline in sales once people return to their normal lives.