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[LectureMaster]

New report claims gamers spend more time watching videos about gaming than playing games

Gamers are spending more time watching videos about gaming on YouTube and Twitch than playing games themselves.

www.gamesindustry.biz

Gamers typically spend 7.4 hours a week gaming, and 8.5 watching gaming videos

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Gamers are spending more time watching videos about gaming on YouTube and Twitch than playing games themselves.

That's according to a new report by Midia Research, which concluded that gamers typically spend 7.4 hours a week gaming, and 8.5 hours a week watching game-related videos.

The research, which Midia claims "highlights the untapped potential for game publishers to bring video content inside their own ecosystems," also claims that 24% of console/PC players and 48% of "in-game buyers" watch game-related content at least monthly, with the latter considered "high-spending gamers."

This means "revenue left [is] on the table," according to the report's authors, with game publishers "ceding significant revenue opportunities – especially advertising – to third-party video platforms, even as the games market faces growth challenges."

Bringing video content inside game ecosystems could also allow publishers to compete in another lane of the attention economy, the report states, "unlocking new revenue streams in the process."

"It's time for game publishers to think about in-game video as something beyond marketing alone," said Rhys Elliott, games analyst, MIDiA Research.

''By reclaiming video engagement, publishers have the potential to unlock new revenue streams, like advertising, and drive growth.''

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[Hero of Spielberg]

New report claims gamers spend more time watching videos about gaming than playing games

Gamers are spending more time watching videos about gaming on YouTube and Twitch than playing games themselves.

www.gamesindustry.biz

---

Gamers are spending more time watching videos about gaming on YouTube and Twitch than playing games themselves.

That's according to a new report by Midia Research, which concluded that gamers typically spend 7.4 hours a week gaming, and 8.5 hours a week watching game-related videos.

The research, which Midia claims "highlights the untapped potential for game publishers to bring video content inside their own ecosystems," also claims that 24% of console/PC players and 48% of "in-game buyers" watch game-related content at least monthly, with the latter considered "high-spending gamers."

This means "revenue left [is] on the table," according to the report's authors, with game publishers "ceding significant revenue opportunities – especially advertising – to third-party video platforms, even as the games market faces growth challenges."

Bringing video content inside game ecosystems could also allow publishers to compete in another lane of the attention economy, the report states, "unlocking new revenue streams in the process."

"It's time for game publishers to think about in-game video as something beyond marketing alone," said Rhys Elliott, games analyst, MIDiA Research.

''By reclaiming video engagement, publishers have the potential to unlock new revenue streams, like advertising, and drive growth.''

---

Oh God, what fresh hell will videogame execs unleash on us with this data

 

[FoxMcChief]

Not me.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Half and half.

 

[balls of snow]

How do you think rage baiters get all that money. Tourists everywhere thats how.

 

[MayauMiao]

I do watch a lot of gaming stuff like repairing old consoles and restoration, as well as documentaries on the history of gaming.

Still play games even last night was about 2 hours of gaming.

 

[Rentahamster]

I spend more time on gaf complaining about games than playing them.

 

[ConkerTheSquirrel.]

Watching games and actually playing them are two different things.

I have a cousin who thinks he's getting the same experience by watching the game on YouTube.

There's more to his story, but the short of it: he's a cheapskate. I don't like cheapskates.

 

[hemo memo]

Not me.

 

[lockdown2222]

I wonder what the age breakdown is for this? Like all the kids that like to watch other kids play with toys on youtube? Is this something the generations below millennials are doing more than millennials and older?

 

[LectureMaster]

I mean these days, I certainly spend more time on GAF than playing games.

You guys ruined my day.

Wife's at work, kiddo at school, I took the day off to have some solitary gaming time that is long overdue.

And yet I spent the whole time here watching @GHG @Kacho @demigod and more doing the glorious roasting feast, the whole fucking day. Now I need to go picking up my kiddo and cook for wife.

Screw you all!!!

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I watch videos about games to decide if I want to play the game myself, and at some point I would imagine yes the amount of video watch will exceed the amount of game playing if I've done it enough over a lifetime

 

[DragoonKain]

I'm not one of them. I'm 99% to 1% and that 1% is looking up walkthroughs and such about games I'm currently playing or game reviews.

SkillUp's 15 hour game reviews probably account for a decent portion of that time people are spending on game videos.

 

[buenoblue]

I just picked up a rog ally in Black Friday, gonna make it easier to just play a game rather than read or watch stuff

 

[ZehDon]

The report itself is titled "The case for in-game video platforms", and describes itself as: "This concept-briefing report dives into how game publishers can reclaim engagement and revenues from third-party video platforms."

If you include every type of gamer on earth in one category, the headline figure is probably true. However, it lists it's insights as:

Key data and insights in this report:

• Gamers’ video content viewing behaviour by age bracket (Q2 2024)
• Viewers’ weekly time spent playing games and watching social videos (Q2 2024)
• Game viewers’ monthly spending on in-game purchases, compared to the average gamer (Q2 2024)

Anecdotally, I'd wager younger demographics skew towards more video than gameplay, while older gamers go the other way. In any case, it sounds like companies are tired of Twitch and YouTube making millions on their games' communities and will looking to house that content themselves. That should be scary for both of those companies.

 

[existensmaximum]

Watching games and actually playing them are two different things.

I have a cousin who thinks he's getting the same experience by watching the game on YouTube.

There's more to his story, but the short of it: he's a cheapskate. I don't like cheapskates.

Sooo.. Kind of like porn and actually being with another person?

 

[SentientStone]

95% GAF
5% YouTube
0% Actual gaming

 

[LavitzSlambert]

Currently posting instead of playing the games I'm raving about, having a rare moment of clarity here.

 

[Griffon]

Yeah, I admit I'm one of those. Especially since I often have a stream in the background while working on other things.
But even so, a lot of that watch time could rather be play time.

Have I gotten too lazy to actually play games anymore?
(Nah, sadly it's just unavoidable droughts, as I already played all the best games in my favorite genres. The ones I care less for can be watched instead)

 

[EDMIX]

nope.

I don't really get the point, but shit, if someone likes watching, let em (no diddy)

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Mainstream AAA gaming has become so shit I think more and more people just can't be bothered to spend the next 80 EUR on something they won't enjoy (and can't refund in many cases). They've become more cautious with their purchasing decisions and actively seek out somewhat independent voices on social media to show them what they're getting. In many cases, after seeing what you're actually getting for 80 EUR, people say nah I'm good and move on with their lives. Only better games will change this, as the commercial successes of this year clearly show.

 

[acm2000]

I watch twitch at work every day but only get couple hours a night at most during the week to actually play anything, so yeah true for me.

 

[peek]

Absolutely this is the case for me, its not even close. This is only because lot of the youtube videos I watch are either people I like playing them, or talking bout em. Sometimes im sooo lazy id rather just watch the game than PLAY it myself too xD

 

[pachura]

Brain rot

 

[Fess]

Nah.

In general I don’t watch game videos. I don’t want to be spoiled.

Rare exceptions exist if I know the game have so much content that some spoilery things won’t matter. Or if I don’t plan to play a game.

 

[Cakeboxer]

No, i don't play cinematics

 

[neocycle]

It's a mystery to me why so many people watch game streamers.

 

[Icymanipulator]

I must be an outlier then, I rarely ever watch twitch or any streamers at all, but I do enjoy the occasional long form video essay or tournament like EVO. I’ll also watch trailers and/or previews for games I’m anticipating, but the vast majority of the time I’m playing games. I didn’t buy them to hear someone else talk about them lol, I like playing games myself.

 

[Guesclin]

Tax the vids

 

[Kataploom]

I watch gaming videos but never gameplay, not for long at least, only to check how a game looks it order to know if I'd like it or not, but that's like 1 minute long check per game every time I do it, rarely I'll stay more.

I don't know how someone can watch 1 or more of someone else playing, I can understand it if it's competitive gameplay or style high skill stuff of a game they play and understand, kind of the same than watching SpeedPaint videos from time to time, but not experiencing the real thing is kinda meh, I'd just get bored and do something else.

 

[DenchDeckard]

I play loads of games. I've actually more or less completely stopped watching any video content outside of digital foundry videos. Ive also dropped all the podcasts I used to listen to.

Everything outside of playing great eastern / Japanese games feels like it could be in trouble and has lost its spark to me.

 

[fersnake]

not me but when im between pc upgrades and dont have a gaming rig well i watch somebody play the games i play lol.

 

[Robb]

Voted no, but I was only considering watching actual games. After reading it sounds like it’s watching any content that could be related to gaming?

I do follow a lot of news, rumor mills, hardware stuff etc.

 

[rofif]

Yeah of course and I won’t believe any of you don’t do that

 

[Ridicululzz]

I do like watching streams of the more cinematic games, like Detroit: Become Human. It's fun to see how playthroughs can differ.

But I don't think I spend more time watching vs playing. Especially since I like playing more grindier RPGs and the like.

 

[Shubh_C63]

Actual Gaming time varies so much, sometimes 6 hours on weekend and then nothing for the remainder.

But Youtube and Gaf/Reddit goes on constantly. Watching 2 matches of StarCraft 2 and one GT7 video daily is 2 hours of watching games right there.

 

[TheDarkPhantom]

Many of them are on this forum lol. 90% actually playing games, 10% watching/reading gaming related content, YouTube, GAF, various gaming related sites I follow on X.

 

[Tanus777]

I spend far more time lurking neogaf or reddit than playing videogames. And when I play is usually replaying old videogames.

 

[Wizz-Art]

Depends, sometimes when I'm playing PS games it sure feels like it.

 

[SHA]

Real progress what matters, who cares about time spending when it's obvious who spend a lot of time on games don't make real progress, that state actually depressing.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Makes sense. I only play around an hour to hour and a half each night. During the day I might spend time on GAF, Reddit, and watch clips of things that interest me.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Nah. I like watching a video or two before going to sleep, but that's it. Most of my free time goes to either playing games or doing other stuff like reading or whatever.

Lots of browsing the internet tho, maybe too much.

 

[ConkerTheSquirrel.]

Sooo.. Kind of like porn and actually being with another person?

If it helps your coomer brain analyze what I just said, sure!

 

[Smiggs]

Oh God, what fresh hell will videogame execs unleash on us with this data

Get ready for Gamer Streaming Sim 2025!!!

 

[DenchDeckard]

Yeah of course and I won’t believe any of you don’t do that

I legit don't. I play hours of games and rarely watch gaming videos but I've even stopped watching twitch. I think this data is true though. I'm just currently an outlier.

 

[BlackTron]

Nonsense. I spend more time reading people arguing over games than playing games.

 

[Brakum]

No. I watch a ton of things like guides but never really people just playing the game like on twitch

 

[DevilHunterX0]

Talking about the PCMR, I presume?

 

[Garibaldi]

Nee idea but I do watch a fair bit in my down time. Not fussed on watching lets plays and streamers, more long form analysis stuff

 

[Vick]

Definitely not me. Only time I've ever watched someone playing a game is when I needed some advices of sort for my own playthroughs. Or maybe see reactions to certain impactful events.

I will never understand people watching games on YT, let alone commenting on them later as if they played them.

Time spent on GAF though..