![The image shows a child opening a red box filled with video game currency.](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60, w_645 /ea677a39199c1b6b4b3c8ac80df7f211.jpg)
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has revealed new data showing that kids want video game-related gifts the most this holiday season. But if you dig into the data, you’ll find that most kids don’t want a new physical game. Instead, this year they’re really digging into their stockings for digital currency and video game subscriptions.
If you’ve been paying attention to the video game industry over the past few years, you’ve probably noticed that digital games are very popular. In 2022 90% of video games sold in the UK were digital. So it’s no surprise that few kids are asking for new physical Xbox or PlayStation games. But what might surprise (or depress) you is that most kids just want Vbucks or an in-game subscription.
This data comes from a recent report published by the ESA which shows what gifts 10- to 17-year-olds in the United States are asking for this Christmas. According to the ESA, the most requested gifts were related to video games, which accounted for 72% of the responses received. 86% of boys and 59% of girls shared video game requests. But what exactly did they want? Well, the top answer was “game subscriptions” – 39%. “Game currency” is not far behind – 29%. And lowest of all were physical video games at just 22%.
You may be wondering what “game subscription” means in this context. My city asked for an explanation. I guess Game Pass and PS Plus are considered part of this category, but it is also very likely that these younger gamers are interested in premium subscriptions for games such as Roblox, Fortnite, and Grand Theft Auto onlined.
Ironically, most people I know who have kids tell me that these young players want digital currency like Robux and subscriptions that provide extra content in games like Fortnite. This is what happens when “perpetual games” that have been updated every few weeks for years become wildly popular. Why ask for a new game when you can get more stuff in the game you and your friends already play every night instead?
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