More and more young (and not so young) people are participating in digitalization every day. Today, 32% of the world’s population is already fully immersed in the digital era, a perfect combination of intuition and technology. Although representatives of Gen Z are the ones who move more easily through this virtual environment, there are video game and gaming fans of all ages.
According to data from a recent Newzoo study, digital-first generations (Gen Z, Gen Alpha and, to some extent, Millennials) interact with video games more enthusiastically than older gamers. This group of digital natives are more likely to watch gaming content.
For these young consumers, gaming is woven into their daily lives. They are likely to continue to play and participate in video games as they grow up, much as they do now, which represents a huge opportunity for the gaming ecosystem.
40% of young people find it easier to present their ‘authentic self’ in the metaverse than in the physical world. 36% say they see themselves more represented by their avatar than by their 2D image on social networks. Finally, 84% say that their physical style is influenced by what their virtual persona wears.
Connecting while disconnecting
When it comes to Gen Z, gaming, immersive experiences, virtual worlds and esports are their preferred form of entertainment. These factors allow young people to connect socially and virtually and translate elements of their offline personality into their digital image, creating a bolder and more authentic version of themselves.
Among young people who claim to be gamers, 87% play video games regularly and 33% play video games more than 3 hours a day; 45% say they are connected almost constantly.
Newzoo notes that there are more computer gamers than mobile gamers and, in general, they spend more time playing games and tend to spend more money on games. On average, PC or console gamers spend 30 minutes more per day, although they spend fewer days per week on this form of entertainment.