A recent survey asked more than 500 American children what they want for Christmas. Of the 72% that planned to ask for video game or game-adjacent gifts, more were more interested in in-game currencies and subscriptions than physical games.
The report, published by the Entertainment Software Association, shared several more statistics that may not surprise parents. The demographic surveyed were ages 10-17, with phones and other electronics requested by 68% of respondents. Physical toys and games were on 38% of their wish lists, while books came in at a measly 26%.
The survey makes it clear that consoles are still fairly popular; while 39% of respondents wanted subscriptions (most likely Game Pass), 38% asked for consoles. There were no numbers provided for PC gaming specifically, but exclusives like Spider-Man 2 and Starfield are likely responsible for a good chunk of the console hype.
Live-service games Roblox and Fortnite still hold a staggering amount of power, with 29% of respondents asking for in-game currency. Roblox recently made its way to PlayStation, and Fortnite continues to collaborate with celebrities, so it's clear they're not going anywhere in a hurry.
It's a clear sign that times are changing. Xbox Game Pass provides access to hundreds of games for a comparatively low cost, and physical games have steadily been declining in popularity if publishers decide to print games on discs at all.
"More than 212 million Americans play video games regularly, so it comes as no surprise that games are at the top of this year's wish lists", shares ESA president and CEO Stan Pierre-Louis. "Whether a family is getting a new console, updating their controllers and headsets, or adding to their library with new games and expansion packs, we know video games are a great tool for families to play together and connect during the holiday season and beyond."
It's clear the industry isn't as wonderful as the games it produces, however. We recently heard a Ubisoft executive foresee the death of physical game sales, and while the report shares that game-buying adults plan to spend an average of $485 over the holidays, 2023 still been a year fraught with layoffs. Let's hope that the industry plans to treat the workers behind so much success better in 2024.