The Digital Australia 2022 report says we stayed connected, apart.
Video games helped keep us social — and likely sane — during waves of lockdowns that swept across Australia in the last year, the IGEA’s Digital Australia 2022 report (DA22) has concluded.
Produced in conjunction with Bond University, DA22 surveyed 1,204 Australian households and the 3,152 individuals living within them.
The report found that over 75% of Aussies who play video games did so with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, while 76% of parents played video games with their children to help pass the time.
A whopping 70% of those surveyed lived in a lockdowned area (waves from Melbourne); likely connected, more than 33% of gamers ended up playing more video games in the face of the pandemic. Twenty-five percent of players used video games as a means of virtual travel (waves at Microsoft Flight Simulator).
Forty-two perecent of those surveyed had to isolate because of COVID-19 exposure at one point or another, the report also found.
In terms of demographics, DA22 says that the average Australian gamer is 35 years old and plays an average of 83 minutes a day. “Almost half” of Australian gamers are female, it concluded.
“Video games were not just a vital source of entertainment during the pandemic, but also a means for connection, communication, and social interaction between friends and family, as well as education and comfort for children,” said Bond University’s Professor Jeffrey Brand.
“More Australians are turning to video games for social activities and mental health, changing video games from a hobby into a larger cultural touchstone enabling families and friends to remain connected,” added IGEA’s Ron Curry. “Video games inspire creativity. We see people connected to gaming culture whether that be making games themselves, creating mods, watching streamers, or even attending concerts in-game. Australians love and enjoy games on so many levels and we are seeing the local game development industry evolve accordingly.”
You can access the full DA22 report here.
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