Gaming is part of the daily routine of a quarter of the Italian population. Smartphones and tablets (62.2%) are the first gateway to gaming, especially for the more mature age groups, according to a survey by Samsung Trend Radar
No longer the exclusive prerogative of young and very young people, that for gaming is now an increasingly transversal passion, which involves the most experienced users and newbies in the tech world, united by a single goal: to carve out their own moment of leisure and escape, within days often congested by work and personal commitments. Reflecting the growing attention towards the gaming world, Samsung Electronics Italia, in collaboration with GWI, a market research institute specialized in “digital consumer behavior”, has developed a new Trend Radar, investigating how gaming preferences have evolved in Italy, to the point of involving an increasingly broad and diversified target.
Italians and gaming: no longer just young people and consoles according to Samsung Trend Radar
The pandemic represented an important watershed in this sense: 23.7% of the sample examined stated, in fact, of devote more time to gaming than it did before the pandemic. A figure that acquires even more importance in the 16-24 age segment, which expresses this preference in 33.6% of cases, highlighting how technology has acquired an increasingly important value not only when it comes to maintaining contact with loved ones. , but also in the entertainment sector.
The importance of video games within leisure and entertainment activities is also evident from data relating to the timing of consumption of gaming products: 29.5% of the total sample claims to play video games 2-3 times a week. The number of respondents who play every day is also relevant, ie 27.8% of the male target and 20.5% of the female target.
The preferred time of day to play is in the evening, from 19 to 22, for about 25% of the analyzed sample: a preference that becomes particularly considerable for the target 25-34 (over 31%), followed by 29.8% in the 45-54 range, to symbolize the end of the working day with a relaxing appointment with their favorite videogames. The concept of leisure and relaxation associated with the gaming experience also emerges from the marked preference to concentrate appointments with your console on weekends, Saturdays and Sundays, both with over 47% of preferences.
The fierce gaming sessions they remain above all a private moment: over 51% of respondents, in fact, prefer to play alone, against 16.3% of those who say they prefer to play online with friends. It is above all women (52.9%) who prefer a solitary gaming experience, particularly in the 35-44 age group, with 57.6% of preferences. If Italians love to play alone, this is not the case for activities related to gaming: in fact, during the game sessions, other activities often take place, which can make the experience more fun and relaxing. 25.8% of respondents love to listen to music, accompanied by other activities such as eating and drinking, respectively with 23% and 21% of preferences: tackling missions in a shooter title, after all, makes you hungry, especially among young Gen Z gamers (34%).
Gaming related products
Among the products deemed essential to better enjoy the gaming experience, obviously, ultra-technological devices cannot be missing, as appropriate mice and keyboards (respectively for about 22% and 20% of respondents), but above all the choice towards gaming chairs is surprising, with 21.9% of preferences, bringing to light what, especially in the most long, it is essential to opt for ergonomic supports. Among the gaming products owned, however, there is a conspicuous preference for smartphones and tablets (62.2%): in about 54% of cases smartphones and tablets are the favorite gaming devices for more mature age groups (45-54 and 55-64 years). In second place is the combination of TV (60.9%) and console (47%), especially for the 25-34 segment, precisely the generation of “late Millennials” still fond of the classic gaming consoles of their childhood; third, the gaming monitor and therefore the PC in general, with about 48% of the preferences.
What, therefore, is the passion for gaming that is increasingly conquering the Italian public? Over 42% of the overall target analyzed agrees that playing video games is a form of entertainment, therefore comparable to the choice of following a TV series, watching a film or reading a book, thus filling an empty moment of the day through an interesting and engaging activity. 36.8% of the analyzed sample also declared that they feel relaxed when playing, and that video games represent a form of challenge to themselves (about 33%), a way to train their skills and try new tasks to complete. .
The Italian public also strongly agrees to distance themselves from a possible “trap” of the gaming world, linked precisely to the possibility of being too absorbed by the virtual world: about 20% of the total sample analyzed, in fact, do not believe that gaming is fundamental in their lives, thus configuring it once more as a healthy and contemporary fun, useful to discuss with oneself and with others and to dedicate a moment of leisure.
That’s all from the mobile devices section, keep following us!