Gamers Are Reportedly More Interested in Watching Games Than Actually Playing Them | Push Square

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You're statistically more likely to be watching a video about games than you are playing one yourself, according to a newly published report.

MIDiA Research, which crunches the numbers on various aspects of entertainment, has recently claimed that gamers are spending more of their week watching gaming-related videos on YouTube and Twitch than they are playing games.

As highlighted by GamesIndustry.biz, the report says gamers are spending roughly 7.4 hours a week playing games, but 8.5 hours a week watching game-related videos on the aforementioned services.

Furthermore, 24 per cent of console and PC players are watching gaming videos «at least monthly» — with the percentage rising to 48 per cent for those considered high-spending «in-game buyers».

The report's point largely revolves around the idea that publishers are potentially missing a trick by not incorporating video content directly into their games and platforms. Currently, publishers tend to stop at releasing trailers and other produced videos, as well as streaming games live, for marketing purposes.

But there's «revenue left on the table» with publishers «ceding significant revenue opportunities – especially advertising – to third-party video platforms» when they could instead «bring video content inside their own ecosystems», taking advantage of the high volume of game-related video their audiences are consuming.

Obviously the report's figures won't speak for everyone; we're sure many of you are playing games more often than watching them. It's an interesting thought, though, isn't it? Gaming does attract a lot of attention on YouTube and Twitch, so we understand the research firm's point that publishers could tap into that and host that sort of content themselves.

What do you make of this report's findings? Do you think you spend more time watching gaming videos or actually playing games? Discuss in the comments section below.

Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing