The current Switch audience was compared with the first users of the console

EEDAR analysts (from the NPD group of companies) investigated the demographics of the first users of the Nintendo Switch in the 2nd quarter of 2017 (immediately after its market launch) and compared it with data for the 4th quarter of 2018. The data demonstrated how much the Switch audience has changed, as well as its willingness to spend money and time on games for this console.

Note that EEDAR was guided by data only for North America.

Paul

• Among the first Switch users, 70% were men, 30% were women. Now the audience is divided 50% by 50%.
• Switch has already attracted more women (as a percentage) than PS4 and Xbox One. Among the users of these two platforms — 55% of men and 45% of women.

Age

• Half of the early Switch users were 18-30 years old.
• Currently, the number of players aged 18-24 has grown to 31%. The number of players aged 35-44 has also increased to 21%. But the audience from 25 to 34 years has decreased.

Time in games

• 59% of early Switch users spent more than 11 hours a week playing games. (Here we are talking not only about Switch games, but about console games in general and desktop ones.)
• Now 38% of gamers who play more than 11 hours a week. Another third of users play 6-10 hours a week, and 27% — from one to five hours a week.

Spending in games

• 40% of early Switch users spent $100-$250 a year on games. 29% invested $250-$500 per year in game titles.
• Now there are 37% and 17% of such buyers, respectively.
• In terms of large spending — from $ 500 — the situation has not changed. 9% of players spend such amounts on games now, as they spent in 2017.

Popular genres

EEDAR also surveyed users of different platforms (not just Switch) about which genres they prefer.

• Console players have their favorite games — shooters, action and RPG, then there are fighting games and puzzles.
• Mobile players’ favorite genres are puzzle, match-3, arcade, skill & chance and strategy.
• As for PC players (including fans of Facebook games), shooters, RPG, action, puzzles and MMO are the most popular among them.

Also on the topic:

• Female players lead in mobile, but are inferior to men in esports and streamingWho plays mobile games?