U.S. adults are spending big on video games, playing mostly on smartphones

The average American video gamer is 33 years old, prefers to play on their smartphone and is spending big on content — 20 percent more than a year ago and 85 percent more than in 2015, a report showed on Thursday.

[Jin_Sakai]

Disgusting. Can’t stand mobile gaming. Nintendo Switch being an exception.

[Felix_Argyle_Catbro]

Why though? There are plenty of good games on mobile, and more are constantly being ported there.

[Elwenil]

Please enlighten me to a "good" game on mobile. And by "good", I mean something that doesn't drown me in ads, constantly flash little exclamation points on icons to try and get me to buy something, pause the gameplay in order to watch an ad or video or hold the game hostage by trickling out "lives", plays or otherwise obstructing gameplay with some monetization in mind. About the only thing I can think of off the top of my head is Minecraft and it's so clunky without a controller it can be hardly called playable.

And to be fair, I don't mind paying for a good game, but frankly, the reviews can hardly be trusted and I've paid for games and still been hammered by ads constantly. Point blank, 99% of the mobile gaming scene is a scam and nothing but regurgitated Bejeweled clones, bad attempts to copy the old flash-based "siege" browser games and other random nonsense that can hardly be considered a game. It's no wonder most PC and console gamers look at mobile with contempt.

[MajorLazer]

Dragon Ball Legends is a great mobile game

[Elwenil]

@Felix_Argyle_Catbro,

Thank you for the list, I will check them out. Not sure why you blocked me though, but ok.

[SegaGamer]

@MajorLazer
Dragon Ball Legends is the perfect example of the type of mobile game Elwenil was talking about.

[meep316]

because how dare someone like something he doesnt.

[sprinterboy]

My friend has literally just said to me he spent £100 on his holiday on his mobile game he plays, I was like wtf dude.

[SegaGamer]

I can't help but get mad at those people. They are free to spend their money on whatever they want of course, but it pisses me off that they have contributed in cementing my favourite hobby as a greed infested hell hole. It's all about the money now, it doesn't even matter if gameplay suffers because of it. Microtransactions have to be there now because publishers aren't satisfied unless they have all of the money.

[strayanalog]

Prefers to play on a smartphone? This magical window of light can be a big help sometimes and all, but - in my opinion - a gaming platform it isn't.

[Felix_Argyle_Catbro]

Of course it is. The average phone is much stronger than something like PS Vita. You can play 100-man battle royale games with decent graphics. You can use all kinds of different controllers so you aren't limited to touch screen. Games like Dead Cells, Slay the Spire, Ark Survival Evolved, etc. are being ported there. And it makes half of the gaming industry's revenue.

Explain how it isn't?

[strayanalog]

Happily. By stating that my comment is about my phone and how I don't use it for gaming, that's how it isn't.

[Livingthedream]

I know opinions cant be wrong. But.... games are developed for phones, and make a killing so it is a gaming platform. That's a fact. Just because you dont use your phone for gaming doesnt mean it isn't a gaming platform. Not all people who own pcs use it for gaming, but a gaming platform it is lol just saying.

[Wolffenblitz]

Phones get bad rep because of the amount of shitty F2P, microtransaction revenue gathering, timed "actions" to draw the game out longer, shallow pieces of crap that are called games that are pretty much choking all the game stores for mobile.

Games like Ark Survival Evolved barely work on the Switch and it's still extremely buggy on PC. Who in their right mind would try and play something like that on mobile? Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

To me, this article is gathering stats. These stats point to "adults" that are not gamers and since everyone has a fucking phone, they download a game or two. That's what I see.

[rainslacker]

I dunno about prefer. I think ti's more that there is more access to a smarphone nowadays than any other device. A game console requires a committed purchase. A smartphone is just something people have. It's easy to get into gaming on it, and while the majority don't, or don't spend money, there are enough of them that do that they can make a lot of money on the devices.

[AK91]

I sincerely doubt that.

[Flewid638]

Literally everyone has a phone lol.

[Sgt_Slaughter]

"Video game" is a huge overstatement for games like Candy Crush and the rest.

[TheUndertaker85]

Yeah, like GTA being on mobile too. Along with titles like Fortnite, mobile variations of CoD, Mortal Kombat, and of course “remote play” being available on mobile devices as well.

To stick with the idea that all mobile has is Candy Crush clones is disingenuous to say the least. But it’s pretty obvious to see how individuals here want to downplay.

Google Stadia and other services going to mobile also shows that more companies are moving to a market where their games can be played on mobile.

Also don’t forget that services like PS Now at one point ran on mobile.

[Germaximus]

LOL Not even the tiniest bit believable

That's as bad as saying 50% of gamers are female

[TopherMan]

Why is that not believable? Smart phone gaming is huge.

[Elwenil]

People screwing off on their phone while taking a shit or waiting on something is huge, but not gaming. There is a difference between gaming and killing time just as carving a masterpiece from a block of wood is not whittling.

[TopherMan]

@Elwenil

I'm not talking about the quality of the gaming experience. I'm talking about the amount of money being spent by mobile phone gamers. It is huge. Folks can disagree all they want but that is simply a fact and is exactly what ESA is stating in their research.

[rainslacker]

When you include smart phone gaming, the statistics are accurate. If you isolated it to consoles, the conclusions would be much different. PC gaming is also predominately female gamers. But, if you isolate it to AAA or games like what we tend to really consider games, then the conclusions would be much different.

it's about different markets. not all gamers are like us "hardcore gamers". Doesn't make them any less of a gamer. they may play games. They may like them. They wouldn't likely be here talking about games though.

About the only metric that is the same between all these different markets is the average age being in the 30-ish range.

Consider there are so many smart phones, or other mobile devices, that the sheer number of users means that there will be plenty of people who will try games. Lots of people like games, and to be entertained in some way. It's only logical they'll try the games. Many are free to play, so no risk. Through sheer numbers alone, it means lots of people will spend money as well.

[Shikoku]

Ok you made the assertion now prove it because if you can't show it its just an assertion.

[TheUndertaker85]

@Shikoku: Most of what was said isn’t an assertion and is backed by this very story. Further the ESA is providing the statistics.

[rainslacker]

You could read the story. The facts are there. It's been this way for a while. The only assertion being made is by you, and that's in your definition of what constitutes a gamer.

[AnubisG]

As long as we get amazing games on consoles, I don't care.

I don't play on my phone at all. Every game on mobile feels like a hand constantly trying to reach into my wallet. Controls are also a huge issue amd I never liked gaming on the go. I game at home where it's comfortable and when I'm on the go, I enjoy the world around me.

[Shikoku]

The mobile market is why console and PC gaming have had to deal with the cancer of Pay to Win, loot boxes and MT.

[SegaGamer]

Yep, mobile gaming made it big and console / pc gaming copied it. It's why we are seeing horrible microtransactions and pathetic dlc that should have been in the game at launch.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

Mobile games are for a short train, or bus, ride to work, to pass the time. Simple puzzle games, etc. Mario Run is also good to pass the time and that's it. For me, I play on PC and Swtich. Mobile is just there to again pass the time. To me it's just shit.

[Razuel]

women and kids?

[Tross]

I sure as heck don't think of mobile as a gaming platform, let alone one I prefer to play on. Time killing is not what I would consider serious gaming, although it is an ADD contributor. Seriously, we're now in an age where far too many people can't go five minutes without fidgeting with their phone and mobile gaming doesn't help with that. I suppose if you have a loose definition of what constitutes a gamer, those who fidget with their phones when you're trying to have a conversation with them qualify, but I sure as heck wouldn't consider them hardcore...or fun to talk to for that matter.

[Shikoku]

No they aren't, these people aren't gaming they are simple wasting 10-15mins while waiting or on break at work. They aren't gamers and they aren't gaming its like the bogus study years ago that said women made up 51% of gamers but once you dug into the study it used anyone who heard about, new someone or played candy crush and that would make a new born baby or my mother a gamer neither of which is true. "Mobile gaming" isn't gaming its a cancer that has infected this industry and its the reason we have to deal with Microtransactions and other shady bullshit from publishers and Devs.

[Smokehouse]

Not surprising. It’s why we get things like Diablo immortals and they are surprised at the backlash. Another case of management going by spreadsheets instead of their gut.

[Flewid638]

So many fake gamers on here who dont want to see the medium thrive. Smh.

[Cobra951]

"Gamer" and "phone" are mutually exclusive. There are people who play on phones, but they are not at all what I consider gamers.

[Flewid638]

There are people who play on consoles and PC, but they are not at all what I consider gamers either.

[AshleeEmerson]

I don't play it anymore but I use to sink major hours and money into Clash Royale. A game is a game. Consoles aren't better, their just different. It's a win for the expansion of the gaming world; isn't that what we gamers want? More people to play games lol... Who cares what device? (obviously blind critics). Saying a good job to mobile doesn't devalue the console you're on. I mean next gen is knocking on my door as we speak.

Besides...

Isn't gaming about integration, instead of exclusion?

The future is bright (and integrated).