Here's How Much Gamers Apparently Spend In Their Lifetime
Unless you're Andrew Ryan or billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne, you'll know that video games aren't exactly cheap these days. Sony's Jim Ryan has already said he expects $70 to be the norm for new-gen titles, and as juggernauts like Elden Ring and Horizon Forbidden West push that, we dread to think what The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 and Starfield are going to cost.
It's probably for the best that you don't, but have you ever tried to tot up your gaming spend? From those monthly subscriptions to PS Plus and Game Pass, to splashing V-bucks on the Battle Pass, or buying a LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga DLC just so you can get Din Djarin. Now, someone has worked out your average lifetime spend on your passion for pixels.
What Is The Average Gamer's Lifetime Spend?
According to economists at All Home Connections (via The Gamer), the average lifetime spend of a gamer is a jaw-dropping $58,000/£46,000. It's baffling to think we could spend that much on video games, but then again, it shows how big the industry is and where it is heading.
1,000 Americans were asked about their monthly spend on gaming and how old they are. The results made for some interesting reading. The biggest culprit for gaming gorging is (obviously) Millennials. Cue angry Boomers. Apparently, Millennials spend around $86 per month on gaming, meaning it's a lifetime cost of $66,000.
Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980) have a spend of $62, and Boomers (1946-1964) spend the least with $52. Still, $52 a month on gaming still seems pretty high for grandparents to splash their cash. Finally, Gen Z (1992-2012) come in second place with an average monthly spend of $80. Depressingly, they also worked out that if Millennials didn't spend all that dosh on gaming, they'd earn around $307,000/£244,000 by retirement.
Is Our Gaming Spend Increasing?
The gaming scene is booming right now, and although it's easy to understand why older generations spend less because they're newer to gaming, things have always been this way. Putting it simply, there are far more developers and bigger teams than before. This means publishers can churn out titles on a regular basis, and even remaster old favourites for a nostalgic cash grab. Added to this, subscription services are big business.
We'd like to point out that we've been heading this way for a long time. While we might wince at the price of the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, remember that the Nintendo 64 had an eye-watering price tag when it first came out in 1996. Back then, the cartridges also cost a small fortune, and we'd argue, would rival today's AAA titles in terms of modern money. Would you rather have a house or your morning Starbucks and GTA 6? Decide for yourselves.