U.S. Consumer Video Game Spending Totaled $57.2 Billion in 2023

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
U.S. consumer spending on video games reached $57.2 billion in 2023, an increase from $56.6 billion in 2022.
02
Spending on video game content, which includes full games, DLC, microtransactions, and subscriptions, rose to $48.0 billion in 2023 from $47.5 billion the previous year.
03
Digital growth was a primary driver, with a 13% increase in console digital download spending and an 11% increase in digital premium downloads across PC, cloud, and non-console VR platforms.
04
Video game hardware sales remained stable at $6.6 billion, while spending on accessories grew by 4% to reach $2.6 billion.
05
Hogwarts Legacy was the top-grossing console and PC game of 2023, followed by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Madden NFL 24.
06
MONOPOLY GO! led mobile game spending in 2023, followed by Candy Crush Saga and Roblox.
07
Approximately two-thirds of the U.S. population plays video games regularly, spanning all demographics and backgrounds.

Summary

The United States video game industry demonstrated continued economic resilience in 2023, with total consumer spending reaching $57.2 billion. This figure represents a modest increase from the $56.6 billion recorded in 2022, underscoring the sector's role as a significant growth engine within the national economy. The data encompasses a comprehensive range of expenditures, including physical and digital full-game sales, downloadable content, microtransactions, subscription services, hardware, and accessories across console, PC, mobile, cloud, and virtual reality platforms.

Growth was primarily fueled by the content segment, which rose to $48.0 billion from $47.5 billion the previous year. This upward trend was largely driven by a 13% increase in digital console downloads and an 11% rise in digital premium downloads across PC, cloud, and non-console VR platforms. Meanwhile, the hardware market maintained stability with $6.6 billion in sales, and the accessories segment saw a 4% increase, totaling $2.6 billion.

The analysis, conducted by the Entertainment Software Association in collaboration with Circana, highlights that nearly two-thirds of the American population engages with video games. Industry experts attribute this sustained performance to a strong release slate and the diversification of gaming platforms. By tracking top-grossing titles across both console/PC and mobile sectors, the findings illustrate a broad, cross-demographic appeal that reinforces the industry's status as a major creative and economic force.