Is the iPad generation too attached to the screen? According to a recent study, Generation Z is actually less attached to video games than their millennial parents.
According to ExpressVPN's research, it was revealed that millennials spend more time playing games than zoomers do. Data collected from a selection of 2,000 citizens across the U.S. and the UK shows that younger generations are actually moving away from hardcore gaming.
While Gen Z still plays video games regularly, they are less likely to spend hours upon end glued to the screen. Instead, it’s millennials who are more attached and invested during gaming sessions.
The study claims that gamers in their 30s and 40s are more likely to play games every day. A whopping 68% of respondents in the millennial age bracket admitted that they play games daily. Furthermore, they’re the most likely age bracket to play games for more than 24 hours a week.
In comparison, 58% of Gen Z respondents admitted to playing video games every day. Furthermore, they are less likely to spend an entire day playing video games or play games long into the night than their parents.
Worryingly, the study also revealed that millennials are more likely to be addicted to video games than younger crowds. Despite growing up with an abundance of games, only 3% of younger respondents believed they were addicted to games; a larger 5% of millennials believed they were addicted.
With all this data, why are millennial gamers more attached to the entertainment medium? As said in the study, one theory is that the growth of gaming across millennial lifespans has led to a far deeper attachment than that of Generation Z.
“[Millennials] grew up with the gaming industry, watching it evolve from pixelated, 8-bit worlds to lush, realistic environments,” the study reads. “For a lot of ’80s and early-’90s babies, video games are a way for them to unwind, connect with friends, and even make new ones. By contrast, Gen Z has grown up with mobile devices in their pockets, never knowing a world without internet access. For them, gaming could just be a way to pass the time and escape reality for a while.”
With Gen Z growing up with a fully formed Internet, many expected the younger crowd to be more invested in gaming. However, it would appear that the younger audience is more likely to play games but less likely to make them an integral part of their lives.
With the rise of engaging social media platforms such as TikTok and BeReal, Gen Z appears to be more invested in online creative mediums. How will this alter the gaming industry in the future?