Antisocial, lazy…: this study shatters stereotypes about French gamers

You have in your head that video game fans are lazy people who don't move from their sofas or office chairs, have no social interaction and don't go out to culture or do any physical activity? Then you're kidding yourself! A recent study has just shattered all these stereotypes about gamers.

An annual report that shatters all stereotypes

Is your passion video games? Then there's a good chance that during a family meal you must have come across all the clichés circulating around gamers … If gamers have the reputation of being young boys who spend their lives with their eyes glued to a screen with their fingers on a keyboard or a controller in their hand, know that a study that has just been published sweeps aside all these crude clichés.

Indeed, like every year, the S.E.L.L., the Union of Leisure Software Publishers, has come to dismantle all the preconceived ideas about video game fans. Enough to tell grandpa or uncle that they are wrong at the next Sunday meal.

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Gamers are more cultured and sporty than the average French person

Thus, in its annual barometer, the S.E.L.L. reveals that 38.3 million French people played a video game at least once during the year 2023. This represents 70% of the population. Among them, there are 52% of French people who say they play a game at least once a week without knowing whether it's a PC, console or mobile game.

But that's not all! The report debunks many stereotypes. If you imagine that a gamer is a young teenager who stays locked in his room all day, you're completely wrong. And for good reason: The average age of French people who say they play video games is 39 (compared to 40 last year). In detail by age group, we get:

• 84% are adults (between 18 and over)
• 16% are children (10 to 17 years old)
• 43% are over 65 (i.e. 4.7 million French people)

Finally, in terms of gender, we can talk about almost perfect parity because 49% of video game fans are women, like last year.

Among the other stereotypes about gamers, imagine that they don't spend their lives with their eyes glued to a screen. The study reveals that 71% of gamers read more than the average (compared to 66% for all French people) and 76% of them do more sport every month (compared to 70% for the national average). Note that video game fans go to the cinema, theatre, concerts and museums more often. And finally, one in two children find friends through video games.