Between gameplays: How often do gamers reach for their phones?

YouGov offers insights into gamers’ tendencies to engage with their phones while immersed in gameplay across seven global markets. For this piece we define gamers as people who play video games for more than one hour a week on PC or consoles.

In India, the intersection of gaming and mobile use is evident. Over half of the gamers (a culmination of 23% ‘very often’ and 28% ‘fairly often’) report using their phones frequently during their gaming sessions. Interestingly, a quarter (25%) of Indian gamers suggest a less frequent phone interaction, with just under one-fifth (18%) completely refraining.

UAE showcases a similar pattern, albeit slightly subdued. Close to half (46%) of the gamers admit to often juggling between their games and phones. Here, the balance tilts slightly towards infrequent usage with almost a third (31%) saying they don't very often resort to their phones, and a mere 14% abstaining entirely.

In Australia, three in ten gamers (30% combined) admit to often reaching for their phones amidst gameplays. However, the majority lean towards infrequent phone engagement, with nearly a three in five (60% combined) indicating so.

Less than three in ten American gamers (28% combined) often mix phone interactions with their gaming. This trend slightly veers towards less phone usage, with over a third (34%) leaning into games without much phone distraction, and a quarter (25%) maintaining a clear divide between the two activities.

In Singapore, just over a third (35% combined) often blend their gaming experience with phone interactions. However, a notable portion, nearly two-fifths (37%), prefer a diminished phone presence during their gaming hours, and one-fifth tend to stay wholly engrossed in their games (21%).

When it comes to Denmark, under a quarter of gamers frequently merge their digital pastimes (23% combined). The dominant trend, however, suggests a clear distinction, with two in five (40%) occasionally reaching out and over a quarter (27%) keeping their phones firmly at bay.

Lastly, Britain stands out with its reserved stance. Close to a quarter of British gamers admit to often engaging with their phones (23% combined). The majority reflect a preference for focused gameplay, with a third (33%) occasionally allowing phone interruptions and nearly a third (30%) abstaining altogether.

For those seeking to engage these audiences, it becomes paramount to recognize where the audience's attention wavers and where it holds firm. These insights can guide tailored strategies, be it mobile ad placements for markets with frequent phone use or non-intrusive methods for those favoring uninterrupted gameplay.

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Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. The data is based on surveys of adults aged 18+ years in 18 markets with sample sizes varying between 512 and 2,005 for each market. All surveys were conducted online in April 2023. Data from each market uses a nationally representative sample apart from Mexico and India, which use urban representative samples, and Indonesia and Hong Kong, which use online representative samples. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.

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