Ampere Analysis: More players in the UK, US and Japan still prefer single-player games to multiplayer, survey finds

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NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Ampere Analysis surveyed 34,428 players across 22 markets and found that 58% of players in the UK said they preferred playing single-player games to multiplayer ones.

This figure went higher in Japan (where 63% of players said they preferred single-player games) and higher still in the US, where the figure was 65%.

Other countries in the survey who said they preferred solo play included Thailand (62%), Germany (60%) and the UK (58%).

Meanwhile, more players surveyed in China and Sweden said they preferred multiplayer games – with only 47% and 49% respectively choosing single-player – while the Netherlands sat on the fence at 50%.

The survey's findings also suggested that preference of single-player over multiplayer may also come down to age, which is perhaps unsurprising given the popularity of games like Roblox and Minecraft among younger players.

According to Ampere's results, only 49% of players aged 16-24 said they prefer single-player games, but this surges to 56% for players aged 25-34 and grows even higher to 64% for players aged 55 to 64.

Ampere suggests the difference in response between players aged 16-24 and those aged 25-34 highlights "a clear divide between Gen Z and Millennials in terms of gaming tastes and perspectives".

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The results also suggest that social circles still have an influence on game choice, with 24% of respondents saying they would buy or download a game if their friends were playing it too."

"This data reaffirms that single-player games are absolutely still viable – and sought-after – in the live service-dominated landscape," Ampere senior research manager Louise Wooldridge said.

"The market favours multiplayer games for their ongoing engagement and monetisation, but cracking a finely balanced formula for single-player games can leverage this broad audience appeal. Although most gamers prefer this content to multiplayer experiences, the friendship circle still plays a significant role in game discovery and uptake."

More at the link:

 
There was only one single player title in the top ten best sellers in the US last year? How can this be true?
 
Someone show that to the game companies, maybe they will realize that, wait no they won't they only look at the profit's they make off of MTX and online lol.
 
SP junkies need a new fix every few weeks though, unlike Fortnite, Fifa or CoD players who may or may not buy anything in months of playing the same game.

EXACTLY!!!!

There was only one single player title in the top ten best sellers in the US last year? How can this be true?

Because single player games come in many different forms and Publishers. Now collectively add them all up.
 
EXACTLY!!!!



Because single player games come in many different forms and Publishers. Now collectively add them all up.
Multiplayer games dont come in many different forms and publishers? That was just the top ten. There many more that didn't make that cut.
 
It's a cost thing though. The most lucrative games by far are multiplayer games, and they don't cost anywhere as much to create, nor do they cost that much to maintain.
 
It's a cost thing though. The most lucrative games by far are multiplayer games, and they don't cost anywhere as much to create, nor do they cost that much to maintain.
I dont follow. Multiplayer games like COD and Battlefield are some of the most expensive to make and costly to maintain around.
 
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The question asked was not where players prefer single player games but rather single player experience (i.e. Genshin, WWM, solo play in WoW/FF14 etc also fall into this)
And for that matter 50/50 split is normal
 
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I dont follow. Multiplayer games like COD and Battlefield are some of the most expensive to make and costly to maintain around.
You know.. yeah you are right about that, wasn't a very accurate statement by me. But I think there is a belief that you can take an SP team and have them make a multiplayer game with a few maps and create a hit like Fortnite in the industry. You can spend less up front to try to make a hit and then decide if you want to invest big in feeding the machine of the GAAS game.

A lot of the spending on a game like COD is just unrealistic schedules though. If it takes 10 people hypothetically to make 1 game every 5 years it doesn't take 50 people to make the same game in 1 year, it takes a few hundred. (now multiply that by more realistic numbers)
 
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I dont follow. Multiplayer games like COD and Battlefield are some of the most expensive to make and costly to maintain around.

And nobody likes to talk about how much it cost to keep Fortnite going like it is. Makes you wonder why.....
 
I only play sp, but if I buy 3 $70 games a years, I consider that a "great year". Great because there were a whole three games I was excited enough to pay full price for.

The vast majority of games I buy are, I would guess, at least 60% off. My money is still getting out into the industry, but I am buying more games for less, and invariably spending less than if I was just playing nintendo where the prices are somewhat protected. Nintendo seems to be doing great at that, as well. Like xbox trained their audience to not buy games, nintendo trained to just pay up.
 
I would love it to be real, but sadly it's another fake/wrong data from Ampere.

The real market data shows players spend more time and money in multiplayer games.
 
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And yet multiplayer gaming is way bigger.

Gamers are so divided and the market bears that out in less than desirable ways.
 
Why?

No idea how many people work at the studio(s) could hazzard a guess if you knew that.

If you include the following costs......

- Server Infrastructure
- Live Service Content updates
- Customer Service Support and Maintenance
- Marketing


It cost between $300 Million to $500 Million a year! And that doesn't include how it cost about $100 Million to make the game in the first place. Now to be fair.....$100 million of that yearly cost is their unique marketing, promotions, and events that they do every year.
 
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