Gamers spend more time watching others play video games

27 Ene Gamers spend more time watching others play video games

We live in a time where the way of consuming different content has changed compared to more traditional media, with live broadcasts like those on Twitch being the most popular. And especially among gamers, which has been confirmed by the results of a recent study, which indicates that players are spending more time watching others play video games than playing them themselves.

This is a report by Midia Research that, although it provides information that for many is not surprising, makes this trend clear thanks to revealing data for part of the gaming industry. A finding that, by the way, leaves a golden opportunity for video game development companies. According to the study, gamers invest, on average, 7.4 hours a week in games and 8.5 hours in consuming audiovisual content about games, on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

The report also indicates that 24% of console and PC players, and 48% of those who make purchases within games, watch content related to video games at least once a month. This last group, considered “high spenders”, represents a particularly attractive segment. Data that, taken together, could generate proposals from publishers or developers, such as bringing video content within their own ecosystems to capture a significant part of this audience, generating additional revenue through advertising and other strategies.

Something that is shared by Rhys Elliott, gaming analyst at Midia Research, who explains: “It is time for game publishers to see in-game video as more than just marketing. By regaining engagement with video, publishers have the potential to unlock new revenue streams, such as advertising, and drive growth.”

A paradigm shift that, to conclude, could revolutionize the video game industry, leading to greater integration between games and audiovisual content. Although on the other hand, it may open doors for the monetization of these contents and increase the level of commitment that players have with a brand, beyond the purchase of its products or services.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and mandatory quarantines, Twitch saw unprecedented success, with so many viewers, subscriptions, and advertising contracts that many streamers gained fame and money in droves. But with things getting back to normal, all of this has come to a head, to the point that now, many content creators have reported a drastic drop in their advertising revenue. A phenomenon that has generated concern and uncertainty in the Twitch community.

According to several reports, some streamers have seen their advertising revenue drop by up to 95%. This unexpected decline has impacted content creators of all sizes, from the smallest to the largest. For example, Lacy, a popular streamer, has shared his frustration on social media, explaining that his daily advertising revenue has dropped from $10,000 to just $2,000.