6 in 10 Germans play video games

More than half of Germans play computer and video games. Overall, 58 per cent of the population between the ages of 6 and 69 reach for the console, PC or smartphone to plunge into digital worlds. In the Covid-19 year of 2020 alone, around 5 per cent more people in Germany took up playing computer and video games. These are the numbers released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research company GfK. Participation is high across all age classes and genders. However, the 50- to 59-year-old segment is the largest group of players, in which about 1 in 5 currently plays computer and video games. This group and players in the 60–69 age class together make up one third of all German video game players. These ‘silver gamers’ are in part responsible for the continually rising average age of players in Germany – currently 37.4 – over the last several years.

‘The video game phenomenon has long been embraced by society as a whole,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘But never before have so many Germans played as do today. In the last twelve months, the total number of video game players in Germany has grown by 5 per cent, a significant jump. During the shutdown phases in particular, games provided millions of people with great entertainment, a welcome diversion and also a way to stay in contact and have fun with family and friends. In this way, computer and video games made an important social contribution while also winning over millions of enthusiastic new players.’

About the market data
Please note: for purposes of better international demographic comparability, for the first time, only people between 6 and 69 years of age were taken into account in the analysis. This adjustment was made for data up to and including 2017.
The market data is based on statistics compiled by the GfK Consumer Panel. The methods used by GfK to collect data on Germany’s video games market are unique in terms of both their quality and their global use. They include an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers who are representative of the German population as a whole regarding their video game purchasing and usage habits, as well as a retail panel. The data collection methods provide a unique insight into the German market for computer and video games.

game – the German Games Industry Association
We are the association of the German games industry. Our members include developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers. As a joint organiser of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, and answer questions relating to market development, games culture and media literacy. Our mission is to make Germany the best games location.