It's no secret that video gaming has become mainstream: video games are now part of nearly everyone's lives, regardless of gender, background and ethnicity. However, a new study shows just how much gaming has changed modern lives, and reveals that women video gamers are even more popular now than ever.
Of course, many argue that women who play video games tend to stick to more casual games, as well as mobile games. But this new study, done by the Pew Research Center, shows that the percentage of women who actually own a gaming console is larger than the percentage of men owning consoles.
This statistic highlights the fact that women continue to embrace console gaming, and are probably playing titles most often only associated with men, such as shooters, MMOs and RPGs.
Pew's study focused on device ownership and found that 40 percent of American households own a gaming console, such as an Xbox or PlayStation. Of that group, only 37 percent of men own consoles. However, the percentage of women owning consoles is greater: 42 percent. The study also shows that gamers aren't just teenagers either: 55 percent of console owners are 30-49 years old, with 30 percent being 50-64 years old.
"Game console ownership has remained consistent since Pew Research last polled about the device in 2010," writes the Pew Research Center. "Today, 40 percent of adults report having a game console such as an Xbox or PlayStation. Those whose households earn less than $30,000 annually are less likely to own a game console - a third have one, compared with 54% of adults from households earning $75,000 or more a year."
Of course, the income statistics make sense as gaming consoles are not inexpensive: a PlayStation 4 can set someone back nearly $400. With AAA titles at nearly $60 each, console gaming can get expensive.
The study also looked at smartphone ownership and found that 92 percent of U.S. adults own such a device and that ownership is about the same across all demographics. Even 78 percent of seniors, those 78 years and older, own a smartphone device of some kind. Almost half of Americans also own a tablet, although e-reader device ownership is slightly down from 2014. The study also found that PC ownership was about the same, with about 73 percent of Americans owning a desktop or laptop computer.
So what's the takeaway here? Americans like their devices. Also, although there are still those who would argue that women aren't as interested in console gaming as men, these new statistics paint a different picture.
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