I know, I know – PC gaming is king and anyone who chooses to play on a piece of machinery that was outdated at launch is a knucklehead. And yet, I still adore console gaming. I love being able to play on my couch, on my massive UHDTV with a controller in hand, and it seems that more young people are interested in console gaming than in previous years.
According to a new study that polled 9 400 teens across the US, 80% of them considered themselves gamers, with 73% of those either owning or intending to buy an Xbox One or PS4. That’s up 67% from last year when they ran the same study. However, the way young people use those consoles isn’t according to old-school style gaming, but is the modern trend:
However, the rising tide isn’t lifting all ships. With the new consoles’ focus on digital distribution, the popularity of used games in particular is slipping. In the latest survey, 61 percent of teen gamers said they bought pre-owned games, down from 62 percent in the spring and 63 percent a year ago. At the same time, the percentage of respondents saying that at least half of their games would be downloaded nearly doubled from 19 percent in the spring to 37 percent in the latest survey.
So while more young people are looking to join in the fun on console gaming, they tend towards downloading their games rather than buying at retail. That’s becoming pretty standard, I guess, I’m just surprised that teens are also on the downloadable bandwagon – I would have thought it would be easier to convince parents and others to buy games in actual retail outlets. Then again, I suppose it’s pretty standard practice these days to just let kids have credit card details linked to gaming accounts so that they can make their own purchases. Scary times.
This doesn’t mean that PC gaming is necessarily declining, but rather that console gaming is on the rise. People can do both, okay? It’s just interesting that no matter how often analysts say that console gaming is dying, it’s actually still alive and well and growing. I think the fact that consoles are now priced at the same general level of a new phone or other device makes people more likely to pick one up, particularly once they realize it would serve multiple purposes such as Netflix device, Blu Ray player plus, you know, gaming.
Last Updated: October 16, 2015
GooseZA
October 16, 2015 at 11:35
Man, that header brings back memories!
Ottokie
October 16, 2015 at 11:35
Sonic? 😛
*i know the Admiral is on his way now 🙂
GooseZA
October 16, 2015 at 11:38
Yup!
Sonic
Desert / Jungle / Urban strike
Earthworm Jim
Cool Spot
Echo the Dolphin
Streets of Rage
and many more. Good times. Still wish I’d had a Nintendo / knockoff as well for the mario games.
Ottokie
October 16, 2015 at 11:41
Urban strike, damn that game was awesome. Earthworm Jim is self explanatory xD
Hammersteyn
October 16, 2015 at 11:51
Golden Axe
Comix Zone
Street Fighter 2
and and and……….. hhnhnhnnnnnggjhnggjngng
Grand Admiral Chief
October 16, 2015 at 11:57
http://orig06.deviantart.net/77d3/f/2014/010/d/2/sanic_by_daltond-d71lysv.png
Deceased
October 16, 2015 at 14:53
No this is that blue character that Sega makes games of these days … Not Sonic the Hedgehog … c’mon man :/
b1nd3r
October 16, 2015 at 11:36
Children = consoles, World is growing excessively quick, Over population ruining the gaming world >.< let hate flow through you.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 16, 2015 at 11:42
PC gaming is dying, console gaming is dying, PC gaming is dying, console gaming is dying, the wheels on the bus go round and round.
Ottokie
October 16, 2015 at 11:42
Round and round!
Corrie
October 16, 2015 at 11:45
Problem here is they interviewed US teens, whom are lazy, ignorant and won’t bother building a pc because” looks PS4 haz all the COD DLC b4 the xbone and KB/M is for Noobs who cannot use a controller #DewRitos”
I kid you not, the amount of stupidity is on the rise
I have no issues with consoles, I’d gladly pick a Xbox One or PS4 later on but seriously how does one justify R850-R900 a game
AfricanTime
October 16, 2015 at 11:48
“US teens are lazy and ignorant” as opposed to which other nation?
Corrie
October 16, 2015 at 11:52
All teens are lazy, I’m even lazy at my age, But US teens tend to be more, due to cheaper consumer products, have a better internet infrastructure among other things.
But my context is building a PC, they see that as a challenge or hassle and believe it to be a chore compared to buying a console.
AfricanTime
October 16, 2015 at 12:01
it is a bit general your comment about US teens, but anyhow, also i would tend to agree with “them”, why would you buy a PC just for gaming , a new game just released might not meet requirements the PC you bought a year ago, however with consoles you have over 5 year cycle at the bare minimum.
Corrie
October 16, 2015 at 12:05
And generally that is their thought that you have to upgrade every year, My CPU,Mobo ram are 4- 5 years old, I bought a 970 and a 2TB only this year and can enjoy all the games that are coming out, so technically I also lived in a console life cycle as a PC gamer, and so are so many others doing it
AfricanTime
October 16, 2015 at 12:13
sorry don’t understand, 970 cost like 6000 bucks? why would you buy it if your pc can still play just released games?
Corrie
October 16, 2015 at 14:25
GPU was showing it’s age, coils would whine and fans would whiiir a bit too much even after maintenance, plus I started working and felt I wanted an upgrade so I could actually turn settings to ultra and enjoy Gameplay + graphics.
Hammersteyn
October 16, 2015 at 11:52
I don’t. I trade games in or wait for sales or wait for GOTY editions. Then it’s around R500. Still a lot but what can one do?
Corrie
October 16, 2015 at 12:00
Generally many people are happy to pay that insane amount,your just thinking smart and very patient,how do you do it? , but the problem lies again with Sony and M$ whom have a cut of every game sold hence the bigger price tag compared to PC games and I mean look at THPS5, that game wasn’t even complete on disc you had to download the rest so it was like a overpriced PC game techincally where your paying how much and still need to download it
Hammersteyn
October 16, 2015 at 11:59
Also second and games is an option. But sometimes you have to fork out R800 – R900 if you’re running out of games to trade. Then it hurts!
Corrie
October 16, 2015 at 12:02
Issue with trading also it your cutting your library down, even if you don’t play them, down the road you may have that urge to replay
I mean if I think about it I’ve replaying New Vegas, for me it’s reinstalling a steam backup, for others it eish I traded it in for something hence a viscous cycle
Cue FatBastard
Evelyn Peer
October 16, 2015 at 14:55
?
(Umar) Must be Cipher
October 16, 2015 at 11:43
but…but….Pachter said console gaming is dying…
Hammersteyn
October 16, 2015 at 11:59
He needs to patch his mouth
Ir0nseraph
October 16, 2015 at 12:31
XD
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
October 16, 2015 at 12:31
He doesn’t want to pay for the season pass on that….
Greylingad[CNFRMD]
October 16, 2015 at 12:50
It is also easier for kids with mom and dads’ credit cards to buy games that are beyond their age restriction, which then leads to the unavoidable debate of how kids kill because they play violent video games… Anyway, the parents are much less likely to buy you a game rated 18+ when you try and squeeze one off at a retailer, like when our parents used to ban us from watching Candyman when it released on VHS….
The Sten
October 16, 2015 at 14:46
“80% of them considered themselves gamers”
Thats pretty vague. Technically my mother, who only played solitaire is a gamer too…
Skyblue
October 16, 2015 at 21:46
You had me at 16-BIT, I’m retarded that way