New report claims gamers spend more time watching gaming videos than playing games

Gamers spend more time watching gaming videos on YouTube and Twitch than they do playing games themselves.

This is according to a new report from Midia Research, which found that gamers typically spend 7.4 hours a week gaming and 8.5 hours a week watching gaming-related videos.

The research, which Midia says “highlights the untapped potential for game publishers to bring video content into their own ecosystems,” also claims that 24% of console/PC gamers and 48% of “game purchasers” games” view gaming-related content on less monthly basis, with the latter being considered “high-spending gamers.”

This means “remaining income [is] on the table,” according to the report’s authors, and game publishers are “ceding significant revenue opportunities – especially advertising – to third-party video platforms, even as the gaming market faces growth challenges.”

Bringing video content to gaming ecosystems could also allow publishers to compete in another lane of the attention economy, the report states, “unlocking new revenue streams in the process.”

“It’s time for game publishers to think about game videos as something beyond just marketing,” said Rhys Elliott, gaming analyst at MIDiA Research.

“By regaining video engagement, publishers have the potential to unlock new revenue streams, like advertising, and drive growth.”