Video game players are changing their behaviours in the face of the worsening cost-of-living crisis, with many cutting back on other purchases in order to stay online.
A study of more than 2,000 UK gamers by TalkTalk found that more than three-quarters (78%) said they had modified their behaviour to help save money. The cost of energy was named as a major concern among gamers, with 68% saying they now switched their devices off rather than leaving them on standby, and 78% saying they had started playing video games later at night in order to avoid peak electricity costs.
The research found that more than half of those asked (52%) were sharing new gaming purchases with friends to cut costs, and 62% said they were buying no new games and focusing on second-hand purchases or freebies instead. The study found that nearly two-thirds (63%) were cutting back on other items such as clothes and shoes in order to continue gaming.
