Video games have become France’s favorite digital leisure activity, and their popularity is constantly growing. According to the annual study by SELL (Syndicat des Éditeurs de Logiciels de Loisirs), carried out in collaboration with Médiamétrie, all generations are now represented among gamers, with near parity between men and women. France currently boasts 39.1 million gamers aged 10 and over, i.e. more than 7 out of 10 French people. This figure represents an all-time record, demonstrating the massive enthusiasm for this activity. The average age of French gamers is 40, but drops to 38 for regular players who play at least once a week. While the younger generations are particularly keen on video games, senior citizens are not to be outdone. Nearly half of those aged 65 and over (47%) and 61% of those aged 50-64 also play video games. What’s more, 27% of seniors play every day or almost every day, just 4 points less than members of Gen Z (15-24). Interestingly, seniors prefer computers, smartphones and tablets to game consoles for gaming. This preference for more accessible and versatile media shows that seniors are just as connected and technophile as the younger generations. The study also highlights an increase in the level of engagement of female gamers. Among occasional gamers, there are almost as many women (48%) as men (52%). In total, 67% of women over the age of 10 play video games, including 30% on a daily basis. Women are particularly adept at mobile gaming, with 40% having played in the last 12 months. Video gamers also stand out for their diversified cultural practices. Compared to all Internet users, they are more likely to stream videos, listen to music and use social networks. What’s more, they play more sports, read more and attend more concerts than non-gamers. Video gaming is not just a solitary activity, it also has an important social dimension. Indeed, 61% of gamers play in groups, and 32% of online gamers say that video games have helped them make friends. This social dimension is particularly prevalent among children, with 48% feeling they belong to a community. The most popular gaming media are smartphones (53%), closely followed by TV game consoles (48%) and computers (40%). The majority of gamers (62%) use several media to play. In terms of game types, gamers play an average of 3 different genres. The 10 most popular genres are sports games, racing games, shooting games, role-playing games, strategy games, simulation games, fighting games, platform games, puzzle games and adventure games. The study also reveals that 42% of French people have acquired at least one video game in the last 12 months, whether in physical or digital form. A surprising trend is the increase in the purchase of games in physical format, which now represents 72% of games bought. Stores remain the preferred place of purchase for gamers (53%), although online purchases are gaining in popularity (47%). When choosing a game, the most important criteria for gamers are graphic quality, gameplay, lifespan, storyline and price. As for parents, the majority (68%) monitor their children’s gaming habits. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmJetbCeqdw
