Report Claims to Reveal How Often People Buy New Games

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A recent survey by a market research firm found that most video game players purchase only two or fewer new games each year. This might be unexpected, but it suggests the video game industry is changing. While gaming remains very popular, the market has shifted significantly in recent years, and these survey results could signal even more changes to come.

Gaming is definitely becoming a pricier hobby. New games, like *Mario Kart World* on the Nintendo Switch 2, are surprisingly expensive, and the cost of online gaming subscriptions is also going up.

Most Gamers Buy 2 or Fewer Games a Year, Survey Finds

A recent survey by Circana, a market research firm, revealed how often gamers buy new titles. The results, shared by industry analyst Mat Piscatella, showed that 18% of gamers purchase a new game roughly every six months, and another 12% buy just one new game a year. When combined with the 33% who buy even less frequently, this means only about half (47%) of gamers purchase three or more new games annually. At the other end of the spectrum, only 4% of gamers typically buy more than one new game each month.

Hyper enthusiast, price-insensitive players are really keeping things going, especially in the non f2p gaming space. According to Circana’s Q3 2025 Future of Games, only 4% of US video game players buy a new game more often than once per month, with a third of players not buying any games at all. — Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2025-10-02T16:54:18.096Z

Piscatella defended the survey’s findings, suggesting that any discrepancies people notice likely stem from the fact that dedicated gamers are much more engaged with industry news online than casual players. While he didn’t explicitly state why most respondents don’t buy games often, he pointed out the survey didn’t include free-to-play games, which don’t require a purchase. It also didn’t consider games accessed through subscription services like PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass.

These survey findings arrive during a challenging period for the video game industry. Increasing prices for games, consoles, and subscription services suggest that fewer people may buy new games in the future. Just recently, Microsoft raised the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate by $10, and Xbox Series X/S consoles also became more expensive. This isn’t limited to Microsoft, however; a Circana report from earlier this year showed that young American gamers spent roughly 25% less on games in April compared to the previous year.

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2025-10-09 01:36