Over the last decade, streamers have taken on greater prominence in the gaming landscape and some have even attracted significant fan followings. Now, a new report suggests that players are spending more time watching gaming videos than they are actually playing the games themselves. And it may represent an opportunity for video game publishers to add more revenue from the hardcore fans.
Midia Research has released a 17-page report detailing the time that players of various age groups spend playing games and watching game-related videos. The consumer survey was conducted in the second quarter of 2024 and featured responses from players in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, South Korea, and Brazil. According to the report, the total average time that players devote to their hobby is approximately just under 16 hours a week. Only 7.4 hours are spent with the games, while the remaining 8.5 hours are devoted to watching the gaming content on Twitch, YouTube, and social media outlets.
The report goes on to argue that video game companies should capitalize on this trend by creating their own platforms for players to watch game-related user content. This “untapped potential for game publishers to bring video content inside their own ecosystem” could theoretically attract advertisements and sponsorships that currently go to other outlets. More importantly, it could give publishers a direct line to in-game buyers among many of their most devoted customers.
However, there is a drawback from any publisher’s attempt to follow these suggestions. YouTube, Twitch, and the other outlets already have a sizable share of the gaming audience. Attempting to convince fans to jump from a place where they can see whatever they want to a closed-off ecosystem dedicated only to a single publisher may not be as enticing as the report’s author suggests.