TORONTO — Watching TV and streaming online content aren’t the only ways Canadians have been entertaining themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a new study from the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), a national trade association for Canada’s video game industry, Canadians have been spending more time gaming to stay connected and entertained during these difficult times.
Conducted by the NPD Group, the Real Canadian Gamer – Essential Facts 2020 study provides an in-depth look at the video game player community and consumers in Canada, which ESAC says is one of the world’s largest video game hubs with 61% of Canadians reporting regularly playing video games.
Based on a sample of almost 3,200 Canadians, who were surveyed from May 18 to 27, 58% of adult gamers and 80% of teen gamers reported playing more video games during the pandemic.
A majority of those surveyed (65% of adults and 78% of teens) also said playing video games is helping them feel better emotionally and mentally while following stay-at-home measures. In addition, 70% of teen gamers reported using online video games to stay connected while isolating at home.
Gaming is also helping parents find common ground with their kids while helping them spend time connecting, says the study. In fact, 65% of adult gamers with children ages 6 to 17 reported playing video games with their children and 44% reported playing more often during the pandemic, according to the study.
“Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon. Canadians are finding ways to stay connected and engage their minds in positive ways; they are looking for joy and entertainment in what can only be characterized as one of the most difficult times in modern human history,” said Jayson Hilchie, ESAC’s president and CEO, in a press release. “We have found that Canadian gamers recognize the power of play and they are engaging more and more in the immersive and connected experiences that our industry creates. We will get through this period together and video games will continue to be both an outlet for people but also an important way to keep them connected to their families and friends.”
Other findings from the study include:
- 61% of Canadians reported playing video games in the past four weeks.
- The gender split between adult gamers in Canada was 50/50 male to female, which is the same as 2018 (the last year the biennial study was conducted).
- The average age of adult gamers in Canada is 38.
- Mobile devices continue to be the primary way adult gamers access and play video games, with consoles overtaking mobile devices as the most popular among kids and teens.
- Saskatchewan has the most video game players per capita in Canada, with 68% reporting regular game play with an average of 10 hours per week spent among those who play.
- Digital downloads of full games continue to grow, with retail purchases continuing to decline in both adults and teens.
- The most popular genres of video games in Canada are puzzle and word games.
- More Canadians are participating in esports as viewers than ever before. 40% of Canadian gamers view game streaming content; specifically, 41% of adults and 46% of kids and teens.
- 40% of Canadian adult gamers play games online solo, 40% play with others online, 20% play online with other players in the room, and 30% play online with players they’ve never met.
To download the Real Canadian Gamers – Essential Facts 2020 study, please visit essentialfacts2020.ca.
