ReportNewzoo
How Consumers Engage with Games Today: Newzoo’s Global Gamer Study 2024
1 Jan 202435 pages~35 min full read
Gen Z and Gen Alpha players spend an average of 5.2 hours per week gaming, surpassing their time spent on social media.
See it on page 10Approximately 22% of Gen Z players spend $25 or more monthly on games, showing a strong preference for upfront payments compared to the free-to-play model favored by mobile gamers.
See it on page 5One-third of PC/console gamers are 'new game seekers' who spend 7–8 hours weekly across multiple platforms and consistently invest over $25 monthly.
See it on page 25Gen Z motivations are driven by open-world environments (66–73%), deep storytelling (65–68%), competitive duels (71%), and cooperative goals (68%).
See it on page 15New game seekers are predominantly Gen Z (42%) and Baby Boomers who show high loyalty to major franchises like Call of Duty, FIFA, and Roblox.
See it on page 13Over 90% of the 'new game seeker' segment actively consumes gaming-related media, indicating a high level of engagement beyond just gameplay.
See it on page 29Eight in ten global consumers are currently active participants in the gaming ecosystem, either through playing or engaging in related community and content activities.
See it on page 8Gaming dominates contemporary culture, with eight in ten global consumers actively playing or engaging in related activities. The study identifies a highly engaged, high‑spending cohort—particularly Gen Alpha and Gen Z players—who devote an average of 5.2 hours per week to gaming, outpacing social media use. These younger generations also participate in content viewing and community interaction, favoring adventure‑type titles that deliver trend‑driven experiences.
Gen Z’s motivations center on expansive open worlds (66–73%) and deep storytelling (65–68%), with optional tasks, high‑speed action, competitive duels (71%) and cooperative goals (68%) also prominent. Their average daily playtime on PC/console is 2.1 hours, and 22 % spend $25 or more monthly, demonstrating a willingness to pay upfront. In contrast, mobile players prefer free‑to‑play models and lower spend levels.
A significant segment of PC/console gamers—about one third—are “new game seekers.” They spend 7–8 hours weekly, often across two or three platforms, and are predominantly Gen Z (42%) and Baby Boomers. These players allocate over $25 monthly on average, favor adventure, fighting, shooter, racing and battle‑royale titles with high graphics fidelity and survival themes. They consume gaming media at a rate exceeding 90 % and show strong loyalty to franchise titles such as Call of Duty, FIFA, and Roblox.
The findings underscore that Gen Alpha and Gen Z represent a sizable, spend‑capable audience for expansive, socially driven experiences. Simultaneously, the new‑game‑seeker cohort highlights opportunities for high‑quality, cross‑genre titles that appeal to both younger and older demographics across PC, console, and mobile platforms.
