“Golden-year gamers” increasing use of video games for online community

If you’re not a gamer, you may have just rolled your eyes at the idea of playing video games. But times have changed. Games are not just for kids anymore, they can have rich stories, complex puzzles, or be simple fun. More than 10 million Americans over 50 years old have become active gamers in the past three years – with an estimated 51 million onboard!

The rise is probably caused by grandparents spending time with their grandchildren, but experts say; “It’s stress release, connecting socially and staying mentally sharp. This is wonderfully bite-sized bits of entertainment.”

Seniors are enjoying the feeling of community they can make in their own living rooms, or with friends and strangers online. A 79-year old woman living in a retirement community said, “It’s a lot of fun when there are other people coming and going and they’ll stop and watch and they’ll cheer on this one or that one”.   So what are you waiting for? The PlayStation 5’s out soon…

Read more about how senior gamers represent a growth market for video games and how games can help provide community here.