Adult gamers say they've made numerous friends since the pandemic, according to a new survey. They also claim to have top research skills and a great chance of finding a date.
Recently, I joked that my nephews might never meet a significant other, since they are essentially glued to their Xbox Series X consoles, but their dad commented that they might instead find someone while playing a game.
While this flies in the face of every stereotype of the lonely adult gamer sitting in their parents’ basement covered in Cheeto dust, a new survey indicates that console jockeys may indeed be better at making the most of the social aspect of multiplayer games than the rest of us.
OnePoll surveyed 2,000 US adults in December to find out how social online gamers are; the survey was commissioned by World of Warships and published at Talker.news. Gaming is so mainstream that using online gaming to build a real-life social network of friends has worked for many, especially during the previous year and a half. Sixty-four percent said gaming in general makes them feel less lonely. Buying new games makes them happy.
Most of the gamers in the survey said they’d invite up to four online friends to their wedding. In fact, 43% said they have dated or are currently dating someone they met gaming online. Forty-six percent said no matter how they meet, it’s important that their partner also be a gamer. Here’s a video of the findings:
Things get a little wacky when gamers were asked how much impact games have on their daily knowledge. Fifty-seven percent said they «consider themselves experts on the topics they research thanks to video games,» which is kind of like saying you’re a plumber because you read up on Mario and Luigi. Many respondents also use movies, TV shows, and music to «beef up their knowledge.» Librarians die inside when they read such things.
But it’s heartening to think that 62% of the survey respondents claim games led them to new life goals. Hopefully, those goals include going outside.
Here’s the full infographic, and you can read about the results at Talker.
Sign up for What’s New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
Advertisement
Eric Griffith has been writing about computers, the internet, and technology professionally for 30 years, more than half of that time with PCMag. He was previously on the founding staff of publications like Windows Sources, FamilyPC, and Access Internet Magazine, all of which are now defunct, and it’s not his fault. He spent six years writing exclusively about Wi-Fi, but don’t ask him to fix your router. At PCMag he runs several special projects including the Readers’ Choice and Business Choice surveys, and yearly coverage of the Fastest ISPs and Best Gaming ISPs, plus regularly writes features on all tech topics. He’s the author of two novels: BETA TEST («an unusually lighthearted apocalyptic tale» according to Publishers’ Weekly) and KALI: THE GHOSTING OF SEPULCHER BAY, which you can still get as ebooks. He works from his home in Ithaca, NY, and did it long before pandemics made it cool.
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
© 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. PCMag Digital Group
PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant.
