GAME ON: People might get the feeling that gaming is more popular than ever – and according to a new report from ESA, that instinct is backed by hard numbers. In the US at least, a large majority of citizens across nearly every age group now qualifies as a gamer.
The Entertainment Software Association's latest annual study confirms that video games have long shed their "nerdy" reputation. Released in partnership with market research firm YouGov, the 2026 Essential Facts About the US Video Game Industry report draws on survey data from more than 13,500 respondents to paint a detailed portrait of who is playing, why, and how.
67% of Americans ages 5 - 90 now play video games for at least one hour every week, totaling 212.3 million players, up 3% (7.2 million) from 2025. The gender split is close to even: 53% of men and 46% of women are active players, with Boomers (ages 62-80) being the one generation where women (52%) outnumber men (47%).
Needless to say, gaming is extremely popular with younger generations. More than 80% of Gen Alpha (ages 5-13) and Gen Z (ages 14-29) play video games, as do 71% of Millennials (ages 30-45), 56% of Gen X (ages 45-61), and 50% of Boomers. Even 32% of the Silent Generation (ages 81 – 90) plays regularly.
