A majority of e-sports fans in the U.S. do not play games on computers any longer, with console and mobile/tablet gaming now representing a much larger share of the U.S. e-sports market, according to Nielsen’s eSports Report. The report, which was conducted online in September among 1,000 e-sports fans ages 13+, as well as 200 e-sports-aware non-fans ages 13+, showed that only 35% of respondents play on a computer. Meanwhile, 65% said that they play on any mobile or tablet device and 78% said that that they play on any gaming console (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U). Among console gamers, 49% said they are playing on eighth-generation systems or better (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U). Among all e-sports fans measured, 10% said that they do not play games at all.
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PERCENTAGE OF E-SPORTS FANS WHO PLAY…..
|
| QUESTION |
%
|
| On any system |
90%
|
| On any gaming console (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U) |
78%
|
| 8th generation console (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U) |
49%
|
| Any mobile or tablet device |
65%
|
| Computer/PC |
35%
|
| |
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YOUNG, MALE, SPENDING POWER: Not surprisingly, e-sports fans skew young and male. Fans also live in homes with strong spending power, with an average household income for e-sports fans 10% higher than among U.S. gamers overall (Nielsen). SportsBusiness Journal recently examined the e-sports space as well.
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DEMOGRAPHICS OF E-SPORTS FANS VS. ALL GAMERS
|
| DEMO |
E-SPORTS FANS
|
ALL GAMERS
|
| Average age |
32
|
37
|
| Ages 13-17 |
10%
|
14%
|
| Ages 18-24 |
23%
|
15%
|
| Ages 25-34 |
34%
|
19%
|
| Ages 35-44 |
14%
|
22%
|
| Ages 45-54 |
11%
|
14%
|
| Ages 55+ |
8%
|
16%
|
| Male |
78%
|
54%
|
| Female |
22%
|
46%
|
| Mean total household income |
$64,900
|
$58,900
|
| Caucasian/White |
64%
|
67%
|
| Hispanic |
12%
|
13%
|
| Asian |
11%
|
5%
|
| Black/African-American |
9%
|
12%
|
