There’s no doubt about it, the Canadian Gaming market is hot. In fact, Canada is considered to be one of the best places on the planet to start a video game company. With plenty of government support to back up an already solid gaming industry, it is definitely the best place to be for those who want to build a successful gaming empire.
Based on information from a 2014 Entertainment Software A Association of Canada (ESAC) report, Canada is home to over 300 gaming companies that employ almost 17,000 people. The games that they are created are being offered to a ravenous audience, the same report shows that over 50% of Canadians consider themselves to be gamers.
Who’s Gaming
At first glance, the numbers show a definite lean towards the younger generation but, this doesn’t mean that the growth and success of the video game industry is solely in the hands of teenagers. On an average, the typical gamer in Canada is 33 years old. Furthermore, most gamers are adults.
The study does show that the younger generation plays video games on a more frequent basis than adults, with 81% reporting that they played a video game recently. This number drops down to 64% for those in the millennial generation, and 51% for those who are in the 35-54 age group. Surprisingly, 34% of those over the age of 55 also reported that they played recently, proving that gaming is a cross-generational pastime in Canada.
What They’re Playing
Those over the age of 55 love card games and those in the younger generations love RPGs, shooting, educational, and action and adventure games. Some also love visiting Canadian casinos online These sites offer impressive promotions, a large selection of games (like poker, blackjack, keno, scratchcards, slots, baccarat, roulette, and more), superior security, and fast payouts Canadiancasinosonline.com, and places like it, are perfect for those who love a little risk, and big rewards, in their gameplay.
Mobile Gaming
Canadians are playing video games when they are at home and when they are on the go. Although 85% of gamers own a computer (compared to 35% who own a mobile video game console), the mobile platform is used more frequently. In fact, over 40% of Canadians play on their mobile consoles most often, versus 36% who use their computers the most.
Smartphone gaming is also on the rise. The 2014 report estimates that over 1/3 of worldwide gaming revenue will be attributed to smartphone gaming apps by 2017, a change worth approximately $35 billion.
