Highlights
- 72% of US kids want game-related gifts for Christmas, according to a recent survey made by the Entertainment Software Association, with 39% wanting game subscriptions and 38% interested in new consoles. Only 22% want physical games.
- Live service games like Fortnite and Roblox are popular among kids, explaining why 29% of the surveyed kids want in-game currency.
- Game subscription services like Xbox Game Pass are also highly desired, offering a wider selection of titles that younger gamers might not have had a chance to play yet.
A recent survey made by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) revealed that most kids in the United States want gaming-related products as Christmas gifts, but the vast majority of them prefer in-game cash or game subscriptions instead of actual games. This is indicative of changing trends in the gaming industry, as online multiplayer titles have become popular with children, and subscription services have risen in popularity in the last few years.
The ESA is an organization that unites some of the most important companies in the US gaming industry. Its recent survey interviewed over 500 children from ages 10 to 17 and was not solely focused on games. However, it found out that gaming-related gifts are the most likely present young people will ask for Christmas, being a more popular pick than gift cards, clothes and accessories, or non-gaming tech items.
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According to the ESA’s survey, 72% of all the interviewed children want game-related products for Christmas. From these products, game subscriptions lead the survey, with 39% of all kids interested in getting them. They are closely followed with 38% of the interviewed wanting consoles. 32% of the kids wish to receive game accessories, and 29% are more interested in getting in-game currency. What may be more surprising is that only 22% of the kids desired physical games, which is a surprisingly low number, considering how popular this kind of gift used to be just a few years ago.
What US Kids Want to Get for Christmas
- 72% of the all children surveyed want gifts related to games.
- From these, 39% want game subscription services.
- 38% are interested in new consoles.
- 32% of the kids wish for game accessories as Christmas gifts.
- 29% want in-game currency.
- Only 22% of the interviewed children want new games.
Overall, the research points out some conditions changing in the game industry. While consoles remain popular, the rise of live service games and subscription services is undeniable. For instance, it’s no secret that live service products like Fortnite and Roblox have several children and teenagers among their players. 55% of all Roblox players, for example, are 12 years old or younger, according to an SEC filing from 2022. Considering that back in 2021, Roblox announced it would focus more on older audiences, these figures remain impressive and could explain why in-game money, which would likely be used to purchase cosmetics, is such a popular choice.
What really stands out, though, is how many children want game subscription services. It makes sense, considering that products like PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass have been rising in popularity in the last few years, and they offer a huge selection of titles for gamers. Children and teenagers will not have played so much of the subscription service’s catalog as some older gamers, so these services may prove much more valuable than a single new game for them.
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