Video games create opportunities for connection among family members, friends and broader communities. Across age groups, surveyed players use video game play to share experiences, maintain relationships and build new connections.

Video games help young people stay connected. Seven in ten surveyed teens (70%) say video games help them stay connected with friends and family. More than two-thirds of surveyed teens (68%) say video game play has helped them make new friends.

Generational Insight

Younger adults are more social in play.

59% of Gen Z adult players report playing with friends, compared with 43% of Millennials and 27% of Gen X.

Social interaction remains an important part of video game play. Among surveyed adults who play online, 35% cite social interaction as one of the primary reasons they participate in online video game experiences.

Generational Insight

Solo play is more common among Gen X.

45% of Gen X adult players report typically playing alone, compared with 26% of Millennials and 19% of Gen Z.

Video games offer opportunities for families and friends to spend meaningful time together. Among surveyed adult players, 71% identify fun and entertainment as a benefit of playing together, while 55% value the quality time it creates. Many also recognize the benefits of communication, teamwork and shared learning.