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[Madflavor]

Gen Z Is Cutting Back On Video Game Purchases. Like, Really Cutting Back

Young zoomers just can't afford video games anymore. According to the Wall Street Journal, Gen Z is spending far less on gaming.

www.vice.com

In a June 24th report from the Wall Street Journal, Circana found both online and retail purchases among ages 18-to-24 dropped by 13% from January to April compared to the year prior. In particular, Circana found that young zoomers were spending nearly 25% less per week on video games than in 2024. While purchases for accessories, small appliances, technology, and "total general merchandise" had all dropped with young adults, video gaming took the lead in Circana's data. The drop off was enormous for 18-to-24-year-old gamers, as data on other age groups revealed a minor, single-digit decline well under 5%.

Reporter Rachel Wolfe concluded that contributing factors to dropped spending included a difficult job market, student loans, and a particularly high credit card delinquency rate among those aged 18 to 29. "This group is struggling more than older cohorts," an economist with Wells Fargo told WSJ. "Since younger consumers are not only spending less today but also probably saving less, that could dent their ability to build wealth in the future."

Not surprising at all when the average person under 30 has been priced out of buying a home these days, people have debt and loans up to their eyeballs, and the price of everything across the board has hiked dramatically in the past few years. I do pretty well for myself, but even I don't purchase games like I used to. I no longer have a "try it, you might like it" mentallity. I only purchase games I'm truly excited for and confident I'll like. I can imagine people younger than me who are still trying to get their livelihoods started, aren't entertaining the idea of buying $70 or $80 games on the fly.

 

[PeteBull]

That simply means wealth of us middleaged/old farts means more, more dev studios gotta cater more to our preferences

 

[Tobimacoss]

Gamepass to the rescue.

 

[winjer]

Purchasing power for common people has been going down for several decades. With rampant inflation and stagnated wages, more and more people can't afford a decent living.
And this is hitting people that are entering the job market for the first time, even harder.
The economy is a shit show for anyone that isn't a billionaire.

 

[undeadhero]

Can't blame them. And people act shocked when things like this happen. Why aren't they doing X, Y, Z, etc.?

 

[adamsapple]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

 

[seb85]

He is definitely referring to the male gen Z as the females are busy with onlyfans making millions of $ turning all into sluts

 

[Evolved1]

no one can afford anything after the boomers stole everything while still complaing the whole time.

 

[BlackTron]

I didn't even know 18-24 year olds had any money to spend on video games to begin with.

 

[demigod]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

BBL

 

[Unknown Soldier]

18-24 year olds only play Fortnite and phone games anyways......

This will have zero effect on Sony and Nintendo. I wonder if we'll see a dip in gacha spending though lol

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Purchasing power for common people has been going down for several decades. With rampant inflation and stagnated wages, more and more people can't afford a decent living.
And this is hitting people that are entering the job market for the first time, even harder.
The economy is a shit show for anyone that isn't a billionaire.

That's not happening here.

 

[winjer]

That's not happening here.

Are you living in wonderland. Or maybe you are rich.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

A Hokk3r

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

So - they are purchasing less microtransactions for the two live service games I'm told they play?

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Are you living in wonderland. Or maybe you are rich.

I have my savings

 

[RetroGamingUK]

Just an anecdote

My local retro gaming store owner was telling me how many young people in their twenties come in buying decades old games.

Especially games which are still ongoing series, they're keen to explore their origins.

 

[winjer]

I have my savings

So your idea is that because you are in a good position, then everyone else is also.
And any news of poverty are fake.

 

[peish]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

What a shitty graphics to use near similar blue colors

 

[Brakum]

80$ games will solve this /s

 

[NickFire]

Sales are down with all age groups. Maybe the younger people are down more just because there's no nostalgia factor (devs, ip, etc) for them where some of these flops came out.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

A Hokk3r

 

[Evolved1]

So - they are purchasing less microtransactions for the two live service games I'm told they play?

they've finally lived long enough to realize it's not money well spent.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

No... Because they censor me.

That's why I put it like that.

 

[DAHGAMING]

Got to save them benefit coins for Just Eat/Deliveroo grease box deliveries and vape juice.

 

[twilo99]

z and alpha in particular are going to force a lot of business models to make major changes if they want to remain relevant.

So far in the video game word Nintendo is the only one that seems to be "immune" to gen z's behavior, at least to a certain extent

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

So your idea is that because you are in a good position, then everyone else is also.
And any news of poverty are fake.

Don't get mad, my friend.

Where do you live?

That's why I'm asking.

 

[DaleinCalgary]

When I was 18-24 I didn't have money to spend on video games also

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Or they realize they can play a lot of live service/gaas games 'indefinitely' for free.

 

[Jinzo Prime]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

I would assume boutique beauty products that you can't buy at the drug store.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Prestige beauty is obviously more important, come on.

 

[Signalis]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

Vagina cream

 

[Sintoid]

Edit

 

[winjer]

Don't get mad, my friend.

Where do you live?

That's why I'm asking.

I live in Europe.
But regardless, you can find reports from all around the world, saying the same thing.

 

[Signalis]

Gen Z Is Cutting Back On Video Game Purchases. Like, Really Cutting Back

Young zoomers just can't afford video games anymore. According to the Wall Street Journal, Gen Z is spending far less on gaming.

www.vice.com

Not surprising at all when the average person under 30 has been priced out of buying a home these days, people have debt and loans up to their eyeballs, and the price of everything across the board has hiked dramatically in the past few years. I do pretty well for myself, but even I don't purchase games like I used to. I no longer have a "try it, you might like it" mentallity. I only purchase games I'm truly excited for and confident I'll like. I can imagine people younger than me who are still trying to get their livelihoods started, aren't entertaining the idea of buying $70 or $80 games on the fly.

Nintendo predicted this, that's why their games cost 90$, apparently that will solve the problem

 

[Miles708]

Having no disposable money + no job security + no "unmissable" games + pricy hardware + online nonsense + no hope for the future COULD be a factor in this.

 

[Signalis]

Having no disposable money + no job security + no "unmissable" games + pricy hardware + online nonsense + no hope for the future COULD be a factor in this.

Sad to read, but also very much true

 

[Baemono]

Important detail: this is based on data right before the record-breaking Switch 2 launch

 

[Killer8]

Broke ass kids.

 

[Hudo]

Shit gets more expensive while people don't earn more. And to be fair, most games aren't even worth 60€.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

they censor me.

Who? And what even is there to censor?

 

[PeteBull]

I didn't even know 18-24 year olds had any money to spend on video games to begin with.

Gen Z ninjas:

 

[Bojji]

No... Because they censor me.

That's why I put it like that.

Who? And what even is there to censor?

Government? Anglo-Stan?

 

[Radical_3d]

Young people ITT: "we can't afford shit".

Boomers ITT: *quotes the young lad and "well I am insufferably rich…"

 

[SILKYSMOOTH30FPS]

Or maybe they're just playing these dogshit Live Service games such as Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, and ignore new releases because they've invested so much time into those microtransaction store video games that they have trouble leaving their accounts.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

 

[BlackTron]

Or maybe they're just playing these dogshit Live Service games such as Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, and ignore new releases because they've invested so much time into those microtransaction store video games that they have trouble leaving their accounts.

The real reason today's kids aren't spending their money on video games like responsible adults is because they're wasting it all on video games like dumb kids, gosh darnit

 

[Three]

wtf is 'prestige beauty' ?

$100 shampoos.

Really it's things the likes of chanel, loreal, Mac, etc sell.

Or maybe they're just playing these dogshit Live Service games such as Fortnite, Warzone, Apex, and ignore new releases because they've invested so much time into those microtransaction store video games that they have trouble leaving their accounts.

Their spending has gone down on everything not just games. Games are just the heaviest hit.

 

[FoxMcChief]

Gen Z was a mistake.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

If I were looking at insane education costs + insane housing prices + the looming threat of AI making me obsolete, I'd be cutting back too.