Data from early 2024 shows a big drop in video game spending among young Americans compared to last year. This dip marks a clear shift in purchasing behavior, as older demographics have largely maintained or even increased their gaming budgets during the same period.
The spending downturn is especially noticeable when comparing April 2024 figures to those from April 2023. Young gamers are spending less on game purchases, downloadable content, and microtransactions—a reversal of trends seen during the pandemic when lockdowns and stimulus checks boosted gaming expenditures across all age groups.
Several factors seem to be driving this change. Most notably, the standard price for new AAA games has jumped from $60 to $70 or higher in recent years. In regions like Canada and the UK, prices have climbed even further due to currency rates and taxes, with some upcoming Switch 2 titles reportedly reaching $110–115 CAD.
Economic pressures are hitting young Americans particularly hard. With rent, groceries, and other essentials eating up more of their already tight budgets, entertainment has become a luxury many can’t afford. “With the increased price of daily items, child care costs, and rising property taxes, I haven’t bought one new, full price game this year,” shared one gamer.
Free-to-play titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Genshin Impact have gained massive popularity among younger players. These games cost nothing to access and usually only charge for optional cosmetic items. The social aspect is a big draw—friends can play together without everyone needing to buy the same $70 game.
Subscription services have also changed how young gamers get their entertainment. Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus offer huge libraries for a small monthly fee, so there’s less need to buy individual titles at full price. Many subscribers find themselves sampling all sorts of games rather than committing to single purchases.
The “backlog effect” is taking hold as well. Many gamers are working through their stacks of unplayed or half-finished games instead of rushing out for new releases. When they do open their wallets, they’re often waiting for big discounts, with some holding out for price drops of 50% or more.
Physical extras that used to make higher prices feel more worthwhile—like printed manuals, collector’s cases, and complete games that didn’t need day-one patches—have mostly disappeared, making the full-priced package seem less appealing.
Gaming’s wallet-friendly future
The industry might need to rethink its approach to keep up with these new spending habits. While blockbuster releases and established franchises still do well among older players with more disposable income, publishers chasing younger audiences may have to adjust their pricing or risk losing this important crowd.
Free-to-play games, cheaper indie titles, and subscription services look set to keep growing as young gamers hunt for the best deals and easiest ways to play. Gaming is still a big passion for many people—they’re just finding smarter, more affordable ways to enjoy it.
