Rethinking Gaming in Lockdown: Surprising Insights from 251bn Hours of Playtime Data
During the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about increased video gaming due to lockdowns were prevalent. The DORC’s new groundbreaking study, which scrutinized 251 billion hours of gameplay, reveals a narrative that defies expectations.
Unexpected Findings in Gaming Habits
While it was speculated that lockdown measures could spike gaming addiction, our comprehensive analysis tells a different tale. Contrary to widespread belief, lockdowns did not significantly influence the time individuals spent gaming. The only exception was noted during school closures, where we saw more people turning to games – a rise in the number of gamers rather than the duration of gaming per user.
Study Approach
Leveraging raw gameplay telemetry data from 184 countries, we embarked on a longitudinal study to decipher the actual impact of lockdowns on gaming behavior. This approach allowed us to assess the real-world effects of these public health measures without the bias of self-reported data.
Conclusions and Implications
Our findings challenge the notion that lockdowns would universally increase gaming to problematic levels. Instead, we advocate for a nuanced understanding of gaming trends during such global events. This has significant implications for public policy and future research, suggesting a more tailored approach to address the true challenges in digital behavior.
The Way Forward
The Digital Observatory Research Cluster remains committed to providing data-driven insights that inform society, industry, and policy. This study not only informs current digital habits but also guides future explorations into how societal changes influence digital engagement.
For more details on our findings and methodology, visit digitalobservatory.com to read the full research article or the associated white paper.
During the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about increased video gaming due to lockdowns were prevalent. The DORC’s new groundbreaking study, which scrutinized 251 billion hours of gameplay, reveals a narrative that defies expectations.
Unexpected Findings in Gaming Habits
While it was speculated that lockdown measures could spike gaming addiction, our comprehensive analysis tells a different tale. Contrary to widespread belief, lockdowns did not significantly influence the time individuals spent gaming. The only exception was noted during school closures, where we saw more people turning to games – a rise in the number of gamers rather than the duration of gaming per user.
Study Approach
Leveraging raw gameplay telemetry data from 184 countries, we embarked on a longitudinal study to decipher the actual impact of lockdowns on gaming behavior. This approach allowed us to assess the real-world effects of these public health measures without the bias of self-reported data.
Conclusions and Implications
Our findings challenge the notion that lockdowns would universally increase gaming to problematic levels. Instead, we advocate for a nuanced understanding of gaming trends during such global events. This has significant implications for public policy and future research, suggesting a more tailored approach to address the true challenges in digital behavior.
The Way Forward
The Digital Observatory Research Cluster remains committed to providing data-driven insights that inform society, industry, and policy. This study not only informs current digital habits but also guides future explorations into how societal changes influence digital engagement.
For more details on our findings and methodology, visit digitalobservatory.com to read the full research article or the associated white paper.
