The audience for premium games is becoming wealthier. In an interview with EDGE magazine, Circana analyst Mat Piscatella stated that the proportion of affluent gamers in the paid titles segment is increasing more and more.
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Piscatella did not provide specific numbers during the conversation. He also didn't specify which gamers he considers affluent.
As for gamers with lower incomes, Piscatella mentioned that they prefer service games and free-to-play titles. As a result, a significant portion of the gaming market is now concentrated around Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox, as well as mobile games.
Meanwhile, Piscatella acknowledged that on PC, unlike consoles, the segment of inexpensive, short, and unconventional games is still alive. The ratio of wealthy to less wealthy gamers is different in their case.
“If we can convince consoles to adopt a slightly more flexible strategy and actively promote such projects, it may help [change the situation]. But right now, they are quite content with Fortnite's dominance in playtime and engagement levels,” said Piscatella.
This isn't the first time Piscatella has shared such observations. Notably, last fall he reported that 63% of American gamers purchase games no more than twice a year, and 43% of console sales in the U.S. are attributed to households with an annual income of over $100,000.