Digital Australia 2020 report released by IGEA, Bond University

The Digital Australia 2020 report was released by the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) and Bond University over the weekend, once again providing a snapshot of video game habits across the country.

This iteration of the study canvassed 1,210 Aussie households and 3,228 individuals and revealed the following:

Who plays video games?

• 2/3 of Australians play video games
• 47% of video game players are female.
• The average player age is 34 years.
• 78% of players are aged 18 years or older.
• 42% of those aged 65 and over play video games.
• 9 out of 10 homes have a device that plays video games.

How do we play?

• 89 minutes/day is the average daily total play for males.
• 71 minutes/day is the average daily total play for females.
• 70% use mobile phones for playing games.
• 65% use consoles for playing games.
• 2/3 of people use walkthroughs, wikis of forums to assist with gameplay.

Games for work and play

• 2/3 use game for work training.
• 52% say their children use games for school.
• 60% say games promote student creativity.

Livestreaming, video and Esports

• 66% have used walkthroughs, videos or wikis to help their gameplay.
• 28% have posted their own videos of gameplay.
• 41% have watched Esports, while 31% attend live events.

Households

• 59% of households have parents that play with their children in the same room.
• 25% play with partners online.
• 89% of canvassed individuals are familiar with parental controls.
• 21% of households have a VR headset.

“This biennial study has been conducted since 2005, and gives us a powerful insight into who plays video games, how they play, and why they play,” Dr Jeff Brand, Professor at Bond University and lead author of the report, said. “While the first studies really broke down stereotypes of who played games, this research really helps us to understand why people play.

“Australians still play video games for fun, but this isn’t the only reason. Games are increasingly appreciated for their diverse applications – people play to educate and upskill themselves, to stay socially and emotionally connected, as a motivator to stay fit, and to reduce stress.”

“Digital Australia 2020 emphasises the integral role games play in Australian’s lives. Far from being a solitary endeavour, games are designed to be a shared experience and our research supports the fact that most people play games with other people,” Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA, added.

“Video games have influenced all aspects of society. We are finding games are leaving a footprint in the home, workplace, and school. The reasons we are playing them are more nuanced – we are playing not just to entertain ourselves, but to learn and to connect.”

You can read the full Digital Australia 2020 report here. If you’re curious about previous reports, you can check out the Digital Australia 2018 report results here.