By 2027, it is estimated that around 11.5 million people in the UK will be doing some form of gaming online. This is a significant rise of about 6% from 2024.
The number of online gamers covers all age groups too. Today, we’ll look at some of the reasons why the number of people gaming online in the UK is rising.
What Do We Mean By An Online Game?
We understand that this is a rather broad term. When we talk about ‘online games’, we are discussing any game that has some sort of online connectivity.
We’re not just talking about your typical online game such as Call of Duty, as we also include online casino games, and mobile games such as Candy Crush.
If you need an internet connection to play a game, then it is classified as an online game for the purposes of this page.
So, let’s look at why the number of people playing online games is on the rise. Although, many of the reasons will likely be very obvious to you.
More Devices Than Ever Are Connected To The Internet
Technology is making everything easier. This is probably the number one reason. More devices than ever are connected to the internet. Nowadays, you can play games on:
- Video game console
- Television (yes, some apps on your TV allow you to play games)
- Netflix (yes, Netflix has some games!)
- PC
- Mobile device
You now have more options than ever to access online games. Chances are that the vast majority of people have access to at least one or two of these devices too. This means that they have online games right at their fingertips.
The games that you do have access to are better than ever before too. We’ll touch on that a bit more shortly though.
Lots Of Games Require An Online Connection
Many games require an internet connection or have some sort of online component to help extend their lifespan.
For example, if you’re a console gamer, chances are that you’ve noticed a rise in the number of live service games.
These are games that receive almost constant updates and battle passes. Companies have found that if they give their games a required online component, then they’ll be able to make a lot more money from it.
We know that not everybody will use these online components such as directly socialising with other players, but a lot of people will use some of the online features, even if they’re not aware of it.
For example, some of the more recent single-player games have online features where you can read messages left by other players. Take a look at Nier: Automata, if you want an example.
People Are More Comfortable Gaming Online
In the past, online gaming was something that you needed to jump through hoops to do. We don’t know if you’ve ever tried to game online before Windows 95, but it was a tremendously difficult experience.
You had to type a wealth of commands to get something like Doom or Quake running. Of course, your mobile devices and video game consoles didn’t have an internet connection back then either.
Nowadays, you can jump into an online game within mere seconds.
People are getting more comfortable gaming online because it is just so easy to do. You don’t need to have any technical knowledge at all. Just boot up the game, navigate a couple of simple menus, and you’re ready to go.
A look at the wide range of people who play online games makes it clear that online gaming is becoming easier.
Take the older generation, for instance. While not as many of them play games in comparison to the younger generation, 50% of people over the age of 64 do game online. We expect this percentage to rise as the people who grew up with games keep playing them.
Lots Of Game Choice
There are now more games than ever to choose from. Take online casino games, for instance.
If you head to a place like Casino Detective, you’ll notice that there are thousands upon thousands of games to choose from. All manner of variants of table games, slot machines, and more are accessible online.
Beyond the world of online casino games, there are also standard video games that are suitable for everybody.
There are social online games such as Second Life, shooting games, battle simulators, online RPGs, online racing games, casual games and puzzles.
The fact that there is more of a selection of games than ever before means that people are more likely to find games that they enjoy playing.
It doesn’t matter who you are, we believe that you’ll be able to find a game that you want to play online.
It’s More Fun
With most games, it is just a whole lot more fun to play them online. You have the social component for those who enjoy socialising with friends in online games, and you have the competitive part too.
Games that you play online are much more challenging because you never know who you are going to face off against. We love this as it makes things a whole lot more exciting.
During the COVID-19 era, a lot of people were using online games for socialising too. Almost every single game company saw a boost in the number of online players when people were stuck in their homes and looking for some way to try and connect with others, particularly in the UK where the lockdown restrictions were quite strict.
Final Thoughts: Will Online Gaming In The Uk Continue To Gain Popularity?
Absolutely! Nothing is going to slow down online gaming. Online gaming is now more popular than ever.
More online games than ever are coming out, and there is something for everybody in the world of online gaming.
You need to remember that video games are now the largest entertainment industry in the world, and they have experienced almost constant growth.
A good chunk of this is thanks to online gaming. We wouldn’t be surprised if the number of players accelerated at a rapid speed from here on out.
