Player Behavior

The live-streaming market experienced a cooling period in the first quarter of 2023, with combined viewership across major platforms decreasing by 16% compared to the previous year. Despite this decline, the industry remains significantly larger than pre-pandemic levels, with total hours watched still 46% higher than in Q1 2020 and double the volume of Q1 2019. This analysis, based on data from Twitch, YouTube Live Gaming, Facebook Live, and emerging platforms like AfreecaTV, highlights a shifting competitive landscape where Twitch and YouTube have increased their market share to 74% and 15% respectively, while Facebook Live’s influence plummeted by nearly 69%.

A primary trend identified is the growing synergy between streaming and other media formats. The release of The Last of Us television series on HBO triggered a 107% increase in viewership for the franchise's games and generated over one million related chat messages on Twitch within two weeks. Similarly, non-gaming content continues to expand, with sports—specifically football—accounting for four of the top five non-gaming broadcasts. In the gaming sector, League of Legends reclaimed the top spot by hours watched, while Hogwarts Legacy set a record for single-player games with 1.28 million peak viewers during its early access period.

The creator landscape saw significant shifts as KaiCenat became the top streamer, surpassing xQc following a record-breaking 30-day "subathon" that generated 53.4 million hours watched. The report also notes the rising dominance of VTubers, particularly in the female creator category, where they occupy half of the top ten spots. Geographically, the influence of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking creators remains strong, representing the majority of the top ten global streamers. While the market is stabilizing after years of rapid growth, these findings suggest that high-production crossovers and diverse content categories are becoming the primary drivers of audience engagement.

The report investigates how mobile games influence cognitive and psychological well‑being, drawing on a large U.S. sample of 483 participants (252 men, 213 women, 18 non‑binary) and a series of 28 individual game studies. Personality was measured with the Big 5 inventory, while gaming habits included frequency, genre preference and primary motivations. The study found that personality traits significantly moderate game effects: extraverts gravitate toward social and action games, while introverts prefer relaxation‑oriented titles; openness predicts immersion and inspiration motives.

Mood impact was quantified using Cohen’s d effect sizes for pre‑ to post‑play changes. Several games produced moderate to large positive effects on focus (e.g., Sound Sky, d = 0.90), creativity (Colorize, d = 1.17), determination (Nature Video, d = 0.76) and calmness (Color Breathing, d = 0.61). Puzzle‑centric titles consistently boosted creativity and curiosity, whereas timed or competitive games enhanced focus and grit. Non‑game controls such as a dripping faucet video yielded negative mood shifts, underscoring the relative benefit of game interventions.

The findings suggest that mobile games can serve as low‑cost, scalable tools for improving mental well‑being, particularly when game design incorporates personalization to match diverse personality profiles. Recommendations target developers (to broaden appeal through adjustable difficulty and genre alignment), players (to select games aligned with desired emotional outcomes), and health professionals (to consider mobile gaming as adjunct therapy for mood disorders or attention deficits). The report calls for future research incorporating real‑time behavioral metrics to refine these insights.

Western live streaming viewership experienced a 13.5% year-over-year decline in 2022, totaling 29.5 billion hours watched. This contraction was primarily driven by a 14% reduction in unique active channels, suggesting that streamer burnout impacted content supply more significantly than a lack of audience demand. While Facebook Gaming suffered a substantial 56% drop in viewership, Twitch maintained its market dominance, and YouTube Gaming solidified its status as the second-largest platform. Notably, non-gaming content reached new heights, with the "Just Chatting" category leading Twitch and female creator representation expanding across YouTube and Facebook.

The industry landscape shifted toward creator-driven events and original programming, which frequently outperformed traditional AAA game launches. High-profile spectacles like Ludwig’s Chessboxing and Ibai’s boxing matches demonstrated the immense power of individual personalities to command massive audiences. This trend extended to esports organizations, which generated 1.6 billion hours watched; however, more than half of that engagement was attributed to their rosters of content creators rather than professional competitive matches. Marketing strategies evolved accordingly, as brands prioritized long-term sponsorships with mid-sized influencers and publishers utilized "drops" campaigns to boost game viewership by as much as 412%.

Engagement metrics from 2022 highlight the continued dominance of established titles such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Escape From Tarkov, alongside the rise of international creators like the Portuguese streamer Gaules. As the ecosystem matures, the integration of business intelligence, social analytics, and programmatic advertising has become essential for stakeholders. These tools allow brand marketers and media publishers to navigate a complex market where influencer management and creator-led events serve as the primary engines for revenue growth and audience retention.

The Q3 2023 Video Game Live Streaming Trends Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global live-streaming market, covering major platforms including Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Facebook Live, Kick, and AfreecaTV. Utilizing data from a consortium of industry analysts, the findings indicate that the market has entered a period of stabilization. Total viewership reached 7.6 billion hours watched, representing a minor 4% year-over-year decline but remaining 90% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

A significant shift in the platform landscape is highlighted by the rapid ascent of Kick, which surpassed Facebook Live and AfreecaTV to become the third most-watched platform. Kick’s growth is largely driven by non-gaming content, which accounts for 66% of its viewership, compared to 27% on Twitch. While Twitch maintains a dominant 71% market share, its esports viewership saw an 18% year-over-year decrease. Despite this, mobile titles remain strong, with MPL Indonesia Season 12 ranking as the quarter's top esports event.

The report identifies creator-driven events as a primary engine for high engagement. Events like ibai’s La Velada del Año III and Squeezie’s GP Explorer 2 generated tens of millions of hours watched and record-breaking peak viewership. In the software sector, Grand Theft Auto V reclaimed the top spot for most-watched game, while new role-playing releases Baldur’s Gate 3 and Starfield emerged as the most successful launches of the quarter, collectively generating nearly 100 million hours watched in their first months. The analysis concludes that while overall growth has slowed, the industry is sustained by high-profile creator events and the continued popularity of role-playing and variety content.

The research investigates how parents supervise and manage their children’s in‑game purchases, tracking trends across five European markets—United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy—over four survey waves (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023). Each wave surveyed adult parents or guardians of children who play video games, with sample sizes ranging from 962 in 2018 to 2,808 in 2023, providing a broad cross‑section of the region’s gaming households.

Findings show that three‑quarters of parents consistently report that their children do not spend on in‑game extras, a proportion that has remained stable since 2020. Among the minority who do spend, the average monthly outlay rose from €33 in 2020 to €39 in 2023, reflecting a €6 increase that aligns with inflation. Most spending (64 %) falls within the €1‑20 range, with the most popular items being gameplay‑impacting content (34 %) and decorative or cosmetic items (just under one third). Loot boxes and other unknown‑reward items remain relatively unpopular.

Parental oversight is high: nine‑in‑ten parents of spending children have some form of agreement, half of which are explicit—either seeking permission (38 %) or setting limits (23 %). Preferred monitoring tools include credit‑card bill checks, parental‑control settings, and two‑factor authentication, though 44 % of parents who avoid controls deem them unnecessary and 32 % find them difficult to activate. Awareness of in‑game currency and loot boxes among all players (ages 11‑64) is also limited, with only 9 % having purchased in‑game currency and 4 % having bought loot boxes. The study’s methodology relies on standardized questionnaires administered to representative adult panels in each country, ensuring comparability within each survey year while noting that cross‑year comparisons are constrained by methodological changes.

The study evaluates how digital games shape everyday life in Denmark, measuring participation rates, motivations, and social outcomes among a representative sample of gamers. By linking behavioural data with self‑reported wellbeing, it argues that games have become a mainstream cultural activity that delivers measurable, though modest, emotional benefits while also fostering relational ties when played socially.

Among 1,172 respondents, 79 % reported playing a digital game within the past year, with weekly engagement ranging from 62 % of those aged 55‑79 to 74 % of 16‑24‑year‑olds. This high penetration underscores games as a routine leisure pursuit across age groups. Players rate gaming as an “active, rewarding break,” assigning an average relaxation score of 3.9 on a five‑point scale and an immersion rating of roughly 3.6, indicating that the activity is perceived as both soothing and engaging.

The majority of gaming occurs in solitary settings—91 % of participants play at home—and puzzle titles dominate preferences, attracting 65 % of respondents and achieving the highest relaxation scores. Nevertheless, social play, whether with friends, online strangers (12 % of gamers) or one’s own children (11 % of gamers), markedly elevates relational and community metrics; relational scores rise from an overall average of 2.1 to 2.9 for those who game with children, and empathy levels increase especially among action‑ and adventure‑game players. These findings suggest that shared gaming experiences amplify social connection, empathy, and cross‑generational bonding.

Overall, digital games in Denmark generate modest emotional gains while serving as a versatile tool for personal relaxation and, when played together, for strengthening social ties. The results highlight the dual role of games as both an individual stress‑relief mechanism and a catalyst for community cohesion within the Danish cultural context.

The study investigates how video‑games are consumed in Spain, focusing on family interaction, the adoption of parental‑control tools, and the impact of streaming personalities on player behaviour. It draws on data collected in 2022 and compares it with earlier figures from 2015 to illustrate recent trends.

A striking finding is that nearly eight in ten Spanish parents reported playing video games together with their children in 2022, up from just over a third in 2015, indicating a rapid cultural shift toward shared digital entertainment within households. Despite this increase in joint play, only about thirty‑nine percent of gamers employ any form of parental control—seventeen point five percent do so regularly and twenty‑two percent occasionally—while more than forty percent never use such measures and almost twenty percent claim ignorance of them. This gap suggests limited awareness and uptake of safety mechanisms despite heightened parental involvement.

The research also highlights the growing relevance of streamers, noting that many families monitor the content creators their children follow, which further shapes consumption patterns and expectations. Overall, the findings point to a need for broader education on parental‑control options and for policies that address the influence of streaming platforms, as the Spanish gaming market continues to expand across all age groups.

The 2023 Power of Play survey set out to map the motivations, social impacts and perceived wellbeing benefits of video gaming across a broad international sample. By combining responses from 12,847 active gamers who play at least once a week with findings from ten recent peer‑reviewed studies, the analysis argues that games deliver measurable social, emotional and cognitive value that extends far beyond pure entertainment.

Respondents from twelve markets—Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States—identified “having fun” as the top driver (69 % overall), followed by “entertainment” and “stress relief”. More than half of participants reported regular online play, while a third also engaged in face‑to‑face sessions. Nearly 45 % said they had met a close friend, partner or spouse through gaming, and 67 % believed games help them forge new relationships. Across the sample, 71 % felt games reduce stress, anxiety and isolation, 64 % described gaming as a healthy escape from daily problems, and 83 % reported increased happiness when playing.

Cognitive and creative gains were also prominent: 69 % linked gaming to improved problem‑solving, 65 % to greater adaptability, 60 % to enhanced communication, and 57 % to better linguistic skills. The report cites academic work that documents superior cognitive performance among gamers, reduced depressive symptoms during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and potential protective effects against age‑related memory decline and dementia. Studies of exergames and therapeutic titles further suggest benefits for pain management, motor coordination and social inclusion in clinical populations.

Methodologically, the survey employed an online, quota‑controlled panel designed to reflect each country’s demographic composition, with screening to ensure weekly gaming activity. Data were collected by AudienceNet, a market‑research firm accredited by the Market Research Society and compliant with GDPR standards. The integration of large‑scale consumer data with scholarly evidence provides a comprehensive picture of gaming’s evolving role in mental health, social connectivity and skill development worldwide.

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| Posible tarea | Qué incluye | |---------------|-------------| | Resumen ejecutivo | Un texto breve (≈ 200 palabras) que capture los hallazgos clave del manual y sus implicaciones para docentes y responsables de política educativa. | | Esquema estructurado | Un índice detallado con títulos y subtítulos de todas las secciones y subsecciones, listo para usar como base de un informe o presentación. | | Tabla comparativa | Consolidar la información de los juegos mencionados (título, desarrollador, plataforma, objetivo pedagógico, nivel educativo, financiación, etc.) en una tabla única y fácil de consultar. | | Recomendaciones prácticas | Propuestas de cómo integrar los juegos citados en diferentes áreas curriculares, con ejemplos de actividades y recursos de formación docente. | | Análisis de tendencias | Identificar los patrones más relevantes (p.ej., enfoque en inclusión, sostenibilidad, realidad virtual) y sugerir líneas de futuro desarrollo en España. | | Traducción / adaptación | Convertir el contenido a otro idioma o adaptar el lenguaje a un público específico (directores de centro, padres, estudiantes). | | Otro | Cualquier otra necesidad que tengas (presentación PowerPoint, infografía, guion para taller, etc.). |

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The guide presents a comprehensive overview of the French video‑game ecosystem in 2023, emphasizing the need for responsible consumption and the protection of minors. It argues that widespread digital engagement—now a daily habit for two‑thirds of adults and more than half of teenagers—requires coordinated action from industry, parents, and public authorities to ensure safe and balanced play.

Survey data collected from the SELL‑GSD/GameTrack panels at the end of 2021 reveal that 70 % of French residents play video games at least occasionally, with 53 % doing so regularly. Daily play is reported by 68 % of adults and 52 % of children aged 10‑17, while 95 % of parents are aware of parental‑control tools; only 44 % actually use them, and 51 % know of them without applying them. Parental involvement varies: 13 % supervise every session, 22 % select titles, 25 % advise against certain games, and 40 % allow autonomous play without consent. Moreover, 64 % of parents admit to playing with their children at least occasionally, highlighting the family‑oriented dimension of gaming.

The market analysis shows a split between physical and digital sales, with physical units representing 34 % of volume and 40 % of value, while digital formats account for the remainder. PEGI age‑rating labels dominate purchase decisions, being consulted by 67 % of adult buyers and 64 % of parents, and the system’s classification process involves independent bodies (NICAM and VSC) to certify titles across the Pan‑European market.

The publication also details the functionality of console‑based parental‑control systems, online interaction moderation tools, and the educational outreach conducted by the SELL and its partner network PédaGoJeux. Campaigns such as Safer Internet Day and a series of PEGI‑focused awareness drives illustrate the sector’s proactive stance on fostering a safer, more informed gaming environment for all French users.

Power of Play: Global Report 2023 – Executive Summary

1. Scope & Methodology | Item | Detail | |------|--------| | Survey population | ≈ 12,847 active (weekly) gamers, ages 16 +, from 12 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United States). | | Sampling | Quota‑based, nationally‑representative panels (AudienceNet). Each country ≈ 1,000 + respondents. | | Data collection | Online questionnaire covering motivations, mental‑health impacts, social behaviours, and skill development. | | Academic triangulation | Findings cross‑checked against ~10 peer‑reviewed studies (see References, p. 12). |

2. Why People Play (Top‑3 Reasons – Global)

| Rank | Reason | % of respondents (global) | |------|--------|----------------------------| | 1 | Fun / enjoyment | 69 % | | 2 | Pass the time | 63 % | | 3 | Stress relief / relaxation | 55 % |

Country‑level nuances: “Fun” dominates in every market (≥ 78 % in most). “Stress relief” is especially high in Australia (71 %) and Japan (73 %).

3. Self‑Reported Mental‑Health Benefits

| Benefit | Global agreement (average) | Range across countries | |---------|----------------------------|------------------------| | Reduces stress | 71 % | 55 % – 87 % | | Reduces anxiety | 61 % | 48 % – 78 % | | Reduces feelings of isolation/loneliness | 55 % | 45 % – 73 % | | Provides a healthy outlet for everyday challenges | 64 % | 52 % – 76 % | | Makes me feel happier | 63 % | 45 % – 83 % | | Helps me get through difficult times | 52 % | 33 % – 71 % |

> Interpretation: More than two‑thirds of gamers perceive video games as a stress‑relief tool, and roughly half feel less isolated because of gaming.

4. Social & Relational Outcomes

| Metric | Global % (approx.) | |--------|-------------------| | Play with others online (≥ weekly) | 51 % | | Play with others in‑person (≥ weekly) | 38 % | | Met a good friend, spouse, or significant other through games | 46 % | | Games helped develop deeper relationships | 43 % | | Games helped stay connected to friends/family | 46 % | | Games created lasting memories | 50 % | | Believe there is a game for everyone | 75 % |

> Key insight: Multiplayer and social features are central; almost half of respondents have formed meaningful offline relationships via gaming

The prevalence and perception of non-core gameplay advertisements, often categorized as misleading, represent a significant shift in mobile gaming marketing strategies. Based on a 2023 survey of 5,212 respondents across the United States, Japan, Europe, and Brazil, findings indicate that a vast majority of gamers have encountered these ads. Recognition is highest in the United States at 91%, while other regions range between 71% and 77%. Despite the controversial nature of these promotions, approximately 75% of players in Western markets and 70% in Japan and Brazil admit that the mechanics showcased in these ads are often more fascinating than the actual core gameplay of the advertised titles.

The research challenges the assumption that misleading ads lead to immediate user churn. Between 35% and 46% of gamers reported they would continue playing a game despite the discrepancy, choosing to evaluate the product on its own merits rather than the accuracy of the advertisement. Players generally understand that developers use these tactics to inflate download numbers and revenue or to revitalize interest in older titles. The most appealing elements of these ads are the specific gameplay mechanics and puzzles, while user interface and new features hold the least draw. Notable titles associated with this phenomenon include Hero Wars, various "Scapes" games, and Evony.

Demographic data reveals that the modern gaming audience is maturing, with nearly 10% of U.S. gamers over the age of 60 and less than 2.5% of the global sample under 18. Regional preferences vary significantly; casual titles dominate the U.S. market, while RPGs and complex math-based mechanics are preferred in Japan. In Europe and Brazil, competitive RPG and MMORPG genres lead in popularity. While engagement is high in the West, with many playing over 18 hours weekly, nearly half of Japanese respondents play for less than four hours per week. Ultimately, the industry is seeing a blurring of lines as developers integrate these advertised mini-games into their products to transition from "misleading" to "non-core" content.