Games 360 Report: U.S. 2017

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Gamers' share of leisure time spent on video games rose slightly, while the gamer population itself held steady. Gamers now spend 12% of their leisure time on video games or eSports, up from 11% in 2016.See it on page 13
02
PC is the device on which gamers spend the most gaming time. PC accounts for 27% of gaming hours, ahead of PlayStation 4/PS4 Pro and Xbox One/Xbox One S.See it on page 14
03
Mobile and tablet playership appears to have leveled off after several years of growth. Among console players, 62% now play on mobile or tablet, compared with 66% a year earlier.See it on page 7
04
7th Generation consoles are increasingly used for non-gaming activities. In 2017, 58% of 7th Generation console time was spent on non-gaming activities, with 32% spent watching video on-demand or streaming services.See it on page 16
05
Awareness of VR/AR devices among gamers increased sharply in 2017. Among gamers, awareness of any VR/AR device rose from 37% in 2016 to 63% in 2017.See it on page 24
06
Game genre is a primary factor in new game purchase decisions. Factors influencing console/PC game purchases include genre of game (80%), graphics (74%) and storyline (71%).See it on page 17
07
YouTube is the top video service for gaming-related video among gamers. In 2017, 70% of gamers who watched gaming-related videos in the last 12 months typically go to YouTube.See it on page 18

Summary

Nielsen Games' Games 360 Report for the United States (2017), the eighth annual edition, draws on consumer online surveys collected in Q1 2017 using Nielsen's ePanel, with a sample of 2,000+ interviews split 50% male and 50% female among the general population aged 13+ and weighted to U.S. Census data. The report finds that the share of Americans aged 13+ who are gamers rose to 64% in 2016 from 63% in 2015, and that gamers spend 12% of their leisure time playing video games or engaging in eSports in 2017, compared with 11% in 2016. PC remains the single device on which gamers spend the most time, at 27% of gaming hours, ahead of PlayStation 4/PS4 Pro at 14% and Xbox One/One S at 13%. Among console gamers, 62% now play on mobile or tablet, down from 66% a year earlier. Awareness of VR/AR devices among gamers rose from 37% in 2016 to 63% in 2017, while 7th Generation console use shifted, with 58% of its time spent on non-gaming activities.

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