Gaming Is Leaving TV Behind to Become 2024’s ‘New Family Night-In Tradition’

Television shows and movies once dominated family time on Saturday nights, but new research has revealed a major shift towards video games, revealing a significant cultural shift in home entertainment.

A study conducted by Live broadcastA survey of 2,100 parents in the US, UK and Australia found that 74% of families reported playing games together regularly. Gaming “prime time” usually takes place between 5pm and 10pm, especially on Saturdays, and this activity has reduced traditional TV viewing among families playing together by 40%. Moreover, 74% of parents who play video games with their children do so two to three times a week.

There’s a big reason why parents choose gaming over other media: Interactive gaming is the focus of young people. TV and movies are now regularly competing with second screens like smartphones and tablets, but Livewire’s research found that 83% of parents face no such distractions during gaming sessions.

As for game preferences; minecraft While it dominates all age groups, roblox And Mario Kart they also find themselves in the top five. As children grow, Fortnite And Call of Duty start climbing the rankings; For children aged 15 to 17, Fortnite ties minecraft.

Families also use a wide variety of platforms to play games. Consoles are leading the way and are the technology of choice for 66% of households. This is followed by mobile (48%), tablet (38%) and handheld devices (33%). Laptops (31%) and PCs (28%) are further down the list, ahead of VR headsets (15%).

Beyond fun, 70% of parents believe that gaming positively impacts their children, helping them develop social and cognitive skills such as strategic thinking, teamwork and emotional resilience. Parents also benefit from this; 82% see the activity as a stress reliever, and 83% use it to teach their children about online safety.

The survey also explored the business implications of how this undivided attention presents a great opportunity for brand engagement. According to the report, 96% of parents are open to in-game branding as long as it aligns with their values ​​and improves the gaming experience.

“As a father of today’s young children, I know from experience that this environment is evolving,” said Livewire CEO Tom Simpson. “There has been a clear shift in family priorities; It is preferred over traditional forms of entertainment such as playing games and watching television together. Globally, the new Saturday night prime time is Saturday night game time.”