The Average Age Of A Gamer Is…
This one may be open to some debate. With so many studies being conducted over the years, results do vary. But not by much, it may surprise you to learn. One study by London’s Telegraph states the average age of a gamer is 35 (and their average earnings are around £23,000 per year). This graph from the BBC says the average is 28, while the Video Game Voters Network puts it around 37 years old, with 41 being the average age of a frequent buyer.
Strictly speaking, this is not new information, but it’s an important distinction that needs to be hammered home. It sheds light on the tired stereotype that kids and teenagers are the only ones who play games and shape the industry. This is socially harmful thinking as it’s probably the reason people regard studios who make violent games as irresponsible and “out to harm children,” conveniently forgetting that adults play (and make) them as well.
Do a search on the internet for more studies and you’ll find yourself feeling more and more at ease with yourself as an ageing gamer. So long as the industry continues to factor grown ups into their target demographic, and so long as we elderly types keep putting money back into development teams’ pockets, the average gaming age will remain at a constant that feels right for those of us who may, at various points, feel detached from the gaming world. The bottom line is, it’s just as normal to play games as an adult as it is for teenagers.
