UK gaming penetration by device 2023

An September to November 2023 survey found that 52 percent of UK adults aged 16 years and above ever played video games on any sort of device. Since 2014, the popularity of mobile gaming had overtaken games consoles and TV. As of 2023, 34 percent of respondents said that they played games in the home or elsewhere on their mobile phone.

Gaming penetration in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009 to 2023, by device

Characteristic	Mobile phone	Games console and TV	Tablet	Laptop or netbook	Desktop computer	Smart TV	VR gaming headset / device	Wearable device	Computer (pre-2021: laptop & desktop)	Handheld games console	Portable media player
2023	34%	22%	14%	10%	8%	5%	4%	3%	-	-	-
2022	36%	23%	15%	11%	9%	5%	5%	3%	-	-	-
2021	37%	30%	19%	14%	12%	4%	3%	1%	-	-	-
2020/21	39%	26%	20%	-	-	6%	3%	2%	25%	11%	-
2019	23%	16%	10%	-	-	2%	-	-	10%	6%	-
2018	22%	17%	11%	-	-	2%	-	-	12%	6%	-
2017	21%	15%	12%	-	-	2%	-	-	9%	5%	-
2016	19%	15%	12%	-	-	1%	-	-	11%	5%	-
2015	26%	16%	13%	-	-	1%	-	-	14%	6%	-
2014	26%	17%	15%	-	-	1%	-	-	16%	7%	-
2013	19%	24%	10%	-	-	1%	-	-	17%	12%	3%
2012	13%	25%	5%	-	-	-	-	-	15%	12%	3%
2011	12%	27%	2%	-	-	-	-	-	13%	12%	2%
2010	9%	24%	1%	-	-	-	-	-	11%	13%	2%
2009	6%	27%	-	-	-	-	-	-	14%	16%	1%

Loading statistic...

Download

Source

Show detailed source information?

Already a member?

Sources

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

January 2024

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2009 to 2023

Number of respondents

3,643 respondents

Age group

16 years and older

Method of interview

Online panel

Supplementary notes

* n (2007) = 2,905; n (2009) = 1,824; n (2010) = 2,117; n (2011) = 1,823; n (2012) = 1,805; n (2013) = 1,642; n (2014) = 1,890; n (2015) = 1,841; n (2016) = 1,846; n (2017) = 1,875; n (2018) = 1,882; n (2019) = 1,479; n (2020/21) = 3,105; n (2022) = 3,651; n (2023) = 3,643.

2022 wave: interviews were conducted between September 23 and November 9, 2022

2021 wave: interviews were conducted between October 16 and December 13, 2021
2020/21 wave: interviews were conducted between October 6, 2020 and January 23, 2021.

2021 methodology: interviewing conducted using a mix of post-to-online and online panels. Paper questionnaires could also be requested by postal respondents and were returned by post. Any break column with a base size lower than 100 has been removed as margins of error become too great. Data is tested at the 99% confidence level.

Original question: Do you play games at home or elsewhere in any of these ways? (MULTI CODE) Total ever plays games

Citation formats