GameSpot dad or mum firm Fandom has launched its fourth annual Inside Gaming report, and one of many key takeaways is that private expression inside video games is more and more necessary to gamers. The Inside Gaming report is predicated on information from Fandom’s 350 million month-to-month distinctive guests, 45 million pages of content material, and 250,000 wikis.
The report discovered that the primary motive individuals play video games is to unwind and relieve stress (54%), however an in depth second was “creation, creativeness, and self-expression” (46%). That is up 10% from 2023, demonstrating a rising development. Inside video games, the highest 5 in-game customization gamers search out to specific themselves embody character personalization (76%), Gamertags and usernames (48%), communication (35%), signatures and symbols (31%), and feelings and gestures (30%).
The report additionally discovered that there’s a important hole between how individuals specific themselves in actual life versus on-line. 80% of respondents mentioned their “gamer character” is totally different than their real-life character. After which 64% mentioned it is simpler to be themselves on-line somewhat than in particular person.
The Inside Gaming report went on to say that 60% of individuals imagine self-expression in gaming is extra necessary than ever earlier than, with the research particularly calling out titles like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox for providing in depth choices to personalize their characters. Anybody who has performed these video games is aware of very properly the depth and scope of what varieties of things, skins, and different in-game wares gamers can purchase to deck their character out as they see match.
Moreover, the report touched on how 64% of respondents mentioned gaming communities signify “important protected areas” the place they be happy to specific themselves, not like how they could be capable to in actual life.
“From character customization to cosplay and content material creation, video video games have empowered avid gamers to discover, specific and improve their identity–nearly two thirds of avid gamers declare it’s simpler to be themselves with a controller of their palms,” Fandom CMO Stephanie Fried mentioned. “With the rising significance of gaming as a method for self-expression and private evolution, it is essential for manufacturers to connect with these motivators to assist gamers convey their gaming personas to life in the true world.”
For extra, check out the full study.