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A September to November 2023 survey of UK adults aged 16 years and older found that 83 percent of respondents aged between 16 and 24 years played video games, down from a 92 percent gaming penetration among the same age group in 2020. Overall, gaming uptake increased in 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Video games industry in the UK

In 2023, consumers in the United Kingdom spent over 3.16 billion British pounds on digital and online games. In regard to the annual contribution of the video games industry to the UK Gross Domestic Product, it amounted to 3.68 billion British pounds in 2023.

Mobile games

The popularity of mobile gaming increased over the last decade and overtook games consoles and TV for the first time in 2014. As of 2023, approximately 34 percent of UK adults reported playing games on their mobile phone, the highest rate ever reported. The most downloaded gaming apps in Great Britain include puzzle and casual titles such as Score! Hero 2.

Gaming penetration in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2013 to 2023, by age group and gender

Characteristic	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020/21	2021	2022	2023
Male	46%	47%	44%	41%	41%	44%	46%	61%	63%	55%	53%
Female	38%	41%	39%	32%	31%	32%	32%	63%	56%	56%	51%
16-24	71%	73%	66%	67%	70%	65%	73%	92%	88%	88%	83%
25-34	62%	62%	63%	50%	49%	59%	52%	82%	79%	76%	70%
35-44	45%	51%	44%	42%	40%	36%	41%	76%	73%	67%	62%
45-54	43%	39%	42%	27%	29%	35%	40%	62%	62%	54%	56%
55-64	28%	26%	25%	23%	23%	23%	24%	43%	47%	41%	40%
65+	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	30%	-	21%	24%
65-74	13%	19%	17%	21%	16%	23%	-	-	26%	-	-
55+	-	-	-	-	-	-	19%	-	-	-	-
75+	4%	7%	9%	13%	14%	9%	-	-	-	-	-

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Release date

January 2024

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2013 to November 2023

Number of respondents

3,643 respondents

Age group

16 years and older

Method of interview

Online panel

Supplementary notes

* n (2007) = 2,905; n (2009) = 1,824; n (2010) = 2,117; n (2011) = 1,823; n (2012) = 1,805; n (2013) = 1,642; n (2014) = 1,890; n (2015) = 1,841; n (2016) = 1,846; n (2017) = 1,875; n (2018) = 1,882; n (2019) = 1,479; n (2020/21) = 3,105; n (2022) = 3,651; n (2023) = 3,643.

2022 wave: interviews were conducted between September 23 and November 9, 2022
2021 wave: interviews were conducted between October 16 and December 13, 2021
2020/21 wave: interviews were conducted between October 6, 2020 and January 23, 2021.

2021 methodology: interviewing conducted using a mix of post-to-online and online panels. Paper questionnaires could also be requested by postal respondents and were returned by post. Any break column with a base size lower than 100 has been removed as margins of error become too great. Data is tested at the 99% confidence level.

Original question: Do you play games at home or elsewhere in any of these ways? (MULTI CODE) Total ever plays games

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