12/03/2026
After more than 55 years of gaming, the demographics have changed substantially 👇
According to the Entertainment Software Association, the average gamer in 2025 is 36 years old, and there’s a good chance that they’re female. That’s right — an industry long believed to be dominated by the Y chromosome has shifted in recent years, so that it now closely mirrors the United States population. Men still maintain a lead in players today, though it’s marginal, with a split of approximately 52/47, where 1% didn’t answer the gender question. In previous decades, the data showed a more substantial male player base of around 70/30, but it seems those days are behind us.
The ESA’s data includes some interesting information about the United States gaming population, including that 205 million people play video games. Throughout 2024, Americans spent $59.3 billion on consoles, games, and accessories, a considerable share of the global market. Around 28% of players are over 50, showing that Gen-Xers, who grew up playing the first home consoles, are still at it decades later. In addition to the surprising growth in terms of gender, the study found that the LGBTQ community doesn’t play games nearly as much as other groups, as only 9% identified as players.
Looking specifically at generations, the largest group of players who play games to pass the time or relax is the Boomers. Gen Z leads as the generation that prefers playing games solely for entertainment, while the folks who play games to keep their minds sharp are also the Boomers. This is an interesting statistic, as half of women aged 61 to 79 play video games every week. This is likely why the average age skewed higher than many thought, reaching 36 years old. The time for video games being targeted to and primarily played by children has long passed, despite the continued stereotype that they’re the primary demo.
Dive deeper into these numbers at the link in the comments below.