People Don’t Buy Anywhere Near As Many Games As You Think

Contemplate the quantity of games that launch each month. Then reflect that over 60% of US gamers acquire less than two new titles annually.

It doesn’t really add up, does it? Thus, we often grimace at the notion of publishers producing shorter, more affordable games to further populate the release calendar even more. The universe, truly, does not require additional games.

The aforementioned statistic is sourced from Circana’s Mat Piscatella, who shared findings from the company’s Q3 2025 Future of Video Games analysis.

It indicated that merely 14% of gamers acquire one or more games monthly. Over 60%, conversely, buy two or fewer titles each year.

There are several explanations for this, of course: a general absence of enthusiasm, economic factors, and the emergence of “evergreen” games that engage players for extended durations.

You can, theoretically, simply engage with Fortnite, Roblox, or Genshin Impact and have a thoroughly satisfying experience.

Piscatella emphasizes that it’s the “hyper enthusiasts, price-insensitive gamers [who] are truly sustaining the industry.” In essence, those individuals who spend generously on every major new release and likely frequent websites like this.

He proceeds:

“Why do premium controllers, $149 collector’s editions, Pro consoles, and general price increases exist? Because the price-insensitive, wealthy gamers are the ones driving much of the purchasing as others transition more towards free-to-play.”

Of course, substantial funds are still pouring into the industry via microtransactions.

Sony’s financial data reveals that it generates more revenue through in-game purchases than through full-price releases presently. This is part of the rationale behind its pursuit of live service success.

Still, we are eager to know how many new games you acquire annually at this stage. Are you among the whales sustaining the conventional gaming market, or have you gradually begun shifting your spending elsewhere as well?