Surprising gaming stats and facts you didn’t know

Video games have grown from a minor technological interest into one of the world’s most lucrative businesses. The average person now plays some kind of video game, and their involvement ranges from just using them as distractions to full-on professional commitment. Their interactive nature makes them easy to get lost in, and gamers love sharing what they know about their favorite titles, platforms, and the industry as a whole. 

Just like sports fans, gamers often have a soft spot for statistics. Even when they’re about games they don’t play or systems they don’t use, it’s fun to know all the little details. If you’re interested in learning about the world of gaming, these five facts will give you a solid base to jumpstart your journey.

Video games are more popular than ever

People have been enjoying video games for several decades. For a long time, however, there were a lot of barriers that prevented people from playing. Some of these were practical, as video game systems and titles were expensive and hard to find. Others were social, as video games were stereotyped as an activity exclusively for young men. This prevented a lot of women and older people from playing.

But today, many of those barriers have been broken down. Cloud gaming and mobile games have made them more accessible, and the stereotypes about gamers are fading. Today, roughly 3 billion people worldwide play video games regularly, and nearly everyone has had experience with them.

Competitive games are being taken seriously

Gamers have taken esports seriously for years, and the rest of the world has finally caught up. Sponsors and brand partnerships have made professional gaming incredibly lucrative for top teams and players, and even world governments are getting on board with professional gaming.

A perfect example of this shift in attitude comes from South Korea, where esports are well-established. In South Korea, military service is mandatory, but there are special provisions for professional athletes. When the South Korean team won gold at the Asian Games, the government recognized the squad’s achievement by granting them the status of professional athletes who wouldn’t have to interrupt their careers for their military service. As a result of global interest, esports have earned both money and prestige.

The PlayStation 5 sold well, but its predecessor holds the title

When the PlayStation 5 was released, it sold out so fast that many units never even made it to the shelves. Pre-sales had already bought up all of the stock before it could be sold to general retail customers. High demand coupled with a chip shortage and shipping delays made the PS5 almost impossible to buy for months.

All of this drama and hype made it seem like the PS5 was the biggest seller of all time. While it’s still early in its lifespan, the PS5 has a long way to go before it catches up with the PlayStation 2. The PS2 remains the best-selling console system of all time, selling more than 155 million units from 2000 to 2012.

Slot machine games are big business

Online casinos have seen a massive surge in popularity over the last decade, so it’s not surprising that there are now more options than ever. Even classic table games such as poker and blackjack come in several varieties at most online casinos.

What might be surprising is the wide range of online pokie games available. As slots have become more popular, many game developers have focused on creating them. With each online casino pushing to have a larger library than its competitors, developers have found that slot machines are an easy way to try out ideas and improve their skills as creators.

Currently, there are several thousand slot machine games available to play from hundreds of different developers. These studios range from big names in the industry such as Yggdrasil and Microgaming to new small studios such as Snowborn and Lady Luck Games. Even IGT, the company responsible for many of the slot machines found in physical casinos, now focuses on making online slots.

Celebrities love making video game cameos

Celebrity cameos are a common trope in most media, and video games are quickly hopping in on the trend. Famous musicians have been providing singles and entire soundtracks for video games for a while, with Ariana Grande and Katy Perry recently providing songs for Final Fantasy.

Audio from famous names and characters based on celebrities is hidden in some of the biggest games. Conan O’Brien has an audio cameo in Halo 4, Phil Collins turns up in Grand Theft Auto, Rowdy Roddy Piper references a scene from his role in Saints Row IV, and, of course, Stan Lee appears in Marvel’s Spider-Man.