New technologies, availability of games to consumers and new content formats accelerate the growth of gamers, developers and publishers. The demographics of gamers are changing: the number of women in the video game market is quickly approaching the number of men. That’s according to research from analytics company Playgroundz, writes VentureBeat.
The advent of mobile and computer games has made it easier for women to play. This has led to an increase in the market share of video games for women year after year.
In addition, data shows that women represent 22 percent of cybersports teams and 30 percent of YouTube players.
Since 2016, the average number of hours spent playing games per week has increased by 33% for players ages 15-19. People age 55 and up increased their gaming by 16% over that period, the analysts found.
While 81.5% of users of video streaming service Twitch are male, research shows that women are increasingly dominating the video game market.
In 2016, 47% of users in the video game market were women. That number is expected to rise to 50% in 2019.
“$ In 2018, the video game industry far exceeded Newzoo’s market forecast of $115.8 billion by an additional $22.1 billion <…>. Everyone in the industry is trying to grow their business around the growing presence of women in gaming, cybersports and new ways to reward gamers,” said PM Studios CEO and Playgroundz Director of Development Michael Yam.
Using services such as Twitch, Mixer and Mobcrush, gamers can earn anywhere from 10 cents to $1 per hour per viewer, as well as funds from sponsorships and donations that day.
The average salary for professional gamers has increased 347 percent since 2016, from an average of $2,800 to $12,500 per month, according to Playgroundz.
Sponsors have increased payments to professional gamers by nearly 700% since 2016, with total compensation reaching $4 million per year.
Since 2016, prize pool rewards have increased by 2,400%, and pools now range from $50,000 to $25 million.
By 2020, 51% of gamers are projected to be women, surpassing men in this category for the first time.
Mobile analytics and sales reports show that more than 75% of female gamers play games on cell phones and 60% play games on tablets.
A total of 68% of mobile gaming revenue comes from women.
