Connect with us

Latest News

3 in 10 Brits Have Skipped a Shower or a Meal to Play Video Games in Lockdown

Published

on

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

More Brits than ever played video games last year to beat the boredom of staying home, and our third lockdown in 2021 has seen the trend gain even more traction. With games being released on more platforms, and more genres than ever now is an excellent time to be a gamer!

Fresh Student Living took a deep dive into the gaming industry in the UK to see just what an impact Covid has had on gaming.

More than four in ten UK gamers say they’ve been gaming more during the COVID-19 outbreak (43%). Plus, UK gamers now make up over two thirds of the population (67%); six in ten of this group say they play mobile games (52%); a quarter PC games (25%); and three in ten console games (28%).

When the pandemic first put a stop to everyday life, the gaming world expanded with regular players putting in even more time, and new people joining the trend to connect with friends, kill time and indulge in much-needed escapism. As more people picked up controllers, the UK gaming population exploded by a whopping 63%! People reported feeling happier and calmer, with a higher sense of freedom, thanks to how immersive the best video games are.

The Average Gamer Spent the Equivalent of 39 Days Playing Last Year

Games like FIFA 21, Call of Duty, Animal Crossing and Last of Us were some of the most played games of 2020, with 3 in 10 people skipping showers and meals to play uninterrupted. Almost 6 in 10 Brits also admit to losing sleep due to gaming sessions.

Pre lockdown, the average gamer spent around 13 hours a week playing their favourites. This increased by 5 hours during lockdown with Brits spending 18 hours or more exploring new worlds online – that’s equivalent to 39 whole days spent gaming!

The average gamer usually sets aside a conservative 1-3 hours to play, but in the UK, at least 3% of the population confesses to playing for 15 hours or more in one sitting.

What Video Games is Everyone Playing?

Most Played Video Games of 2020 According to Units Sold

FIFA 21 dominated in 2020 as one of the most anticipated games in the UK, with around 14 games selling per second in the UK last year.

  1. FIFA 21 (2.18 million)
  2. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1.4 million)
  3. Grand Theft Auto 5 (1.1 million)
  4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (800,000)
  5. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (660,000)
  6. The Last of Us Part II (530,000)
  7. NBA 2K20 (480,000)
  8. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (430,000)

More Brits Are Hooked on Video Games

Lockdown has given us all more time to kill, and today the split between male and female video gamers is strictly 50-50. In the UK, 54% of men and women play a game most days, lowering stress and connecting with others being two of the primary motivators.

Multiplayer Games Keep us Connected

With time to kill and social distancing in effect for most of last year, multiplayer games’ popularity soared as more people jumped online to chat and connect. Even ex-gamers again picked up their controllers to join online communities playing games like Call of Duty, Animal Crossing or Fortnite.

Unsurprisingly, lockdown saw most Brits opt for action-packed and interactive genres, with most gamers choosing fighting, action and huge multiplayer Battle Royale games with lots of other players!

Most played genres in 2020

  • Fighting – 81%
  • Action – 79%
  • Massively multiplayer online games – 78%
  • Multiplayer online battle arena games – 75%

The Rise of Covideogamers in 2021

Lockdown has massively changed the gaming community across the world. In the UK, younger gamers spend loads of time playing while self-isolating and spend around two hours a month watching other people play online – a pastime that has increased since lockdown began.

The pandemic has also created a whole new subgenre of gamers known as Covideogamers, who exclusively started gaming during lockdown. Compared to 36% of existing gamers between the ages of 18 – 34, Covideogamers now make up 46% of the population in the same age group – 35% of these new gamers have also admitted it’s so relaxing and stress-relieving, they’re going to start playing more, long after lockdown ends!

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Amusnet

Weekend Reels | Week 28: Slot Drops & Trends

Published

on

weekend-reels-|-week-28:-slot-drops-&-trends

Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming

Amusnet has released Golden Snake, a captivating new video slot that blends the timeless appeal of Asian symbolism with innovative mechanics and high-impact gameplay. Designed for players who enjoy immersive themes and thrilling volatility, the title delivers a fresh interpretation of one of the industry’s most enduring and successful game styles.

PG Soft has released Monkey’s Wild Party, a new video slot set on a 5×5 grid with cascading reels, increasing multipliers and Wild Mushroom symbols that convert adjacent monkey symbols into wilds.

BGaming has announced the release of Yokai, the debut title in its new ART Collab series, developed in partnership with one of Portugal’s most influential street artists, Gonçalo MAR. In Yokai, players join a mysterious Samurai on the edge of an ancient Japanese forest in the shadow of Mount Fuji.

Pragmatic Play has launched Big Bass Blast, the latest entry in its Big Bass slot franchise. The game uses a 5×3 setup and adds random multipliers to wilds on reels 1 and 5 in the base game, with multipliers ranging from 2x to 10x.

R. Franco Digital has released Spin Fighters, a new slot title inspired by classic one-on-one fighting video games. The game opens with a character selection screen where players choose two contenders. R. Franco Digital said the core mechanic ties winning spins to “upper icons”, with the icon direction determining which fighter takes damage, reducing a health bar.

DEGEN Studios has launched Plague City, a Scatter Pays slot built around visible progression, escalating features and a 10,000x max win chase. Every winning combination spreads infection across the reels, creating bigger setups as players build towards Plague Wave Respins, Plague Breakout Free Spins and Super Free Spins.

BGaming sends players on a daring railway robbery with the launch of Train Heist Johnny Cash, the newest addition to its growing Johnny Cash series. The game marks the return of Johnny Cash, BGaming’s own gold-hungry outlaw, who is back with another scheme to get his hands on the money.

Legion Gold and the Throne of Dead carries Play’n GO into the burning ruins of Luxor, where imperial ambition meets ancient judgement beneath a sky thick with smoke. In Legion Gold and the Throne of Dead, Luxor Temple is no place of silence or ceremony. Stone halls crack, fire pours through shattered columns, and a legendary throne waits beyond the blaze.

Swintt has released Duolito Iceman Tower, a new SwinttPremium slot set in Pisa that includes free spins, shifting wilds and a maximum win of up to 10,000x the bet. The game is a five-reel, 10-payline title. It uses ace-through-ten playing card symbols alongside gelato-themed icons.

Games Global has cast its line into the popular fishing genre with the launch of Fishin’ Madness™ QUADGROWS™, developed by exclusive partner Posh Monkey Studios, introducing an all-new evolving reel mechanic that continuously unlocks new ways to win.

ELA Games has released a new slot title, Flames Fruits Frenzy Hold and Win, expanding its Flames Fruits Frenzy series with a Hold & Win bonus feature. The game uses classic fruit-machine iconography, including cherries, lemons, oranges, grapes, and watermelons, presented with updated high-definition visual effects, according to the company.

Booming Games has launched Fish Tales: Double Catch Max Scatter, the latest title in its Fish Tales slot series. The supplier said the game runs on a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines and offers a maximum win potential of 10,000x.

Tom Horn Gaming will launch Royal Ruby FeatureStorm worldwide on 14 July 2026, adding a new Hold & Win slot to its portfolio. The game runs on a 5×3 reel layout with nine paylines and is positioned as a high-volatility release. Tom Horn Gaming said the title offers a maximum win potential of up to 13,920x the stake and is built around its Hold & Win FeatureStorm mechanic.

Enjoy Gaming has built on one of its most successful slot releases with the launch of Diamond Slam: Xtra Power, an enhanced sequel that builds on the fast-paced, jackpot-driven gameplay that made the original a standout hit. Retaining the original’s classic 3×3 format with five fixed paylines, Diamond Slam: Xtra Power blends nostalgic fruit machine appeal with even greater winning potential.

The post Weekend Reels | Week 28: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Latest News

All Systems Go: Scientific Games Launches New, Advanced Technology for Arizona Lottery

Published

on

all-systems-go:-scientific-games-launches-new,-advanced-technology-for-arizona-lottery

Scientific Games announces that a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery‘s sales across the state, headlined by exciting new draw games for players. The technology advancement features Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, including a central gaming system and retailer management system.

In addition to enhancing security and streamlining operations for the Arizona Lottery, the technology upgrade was designed to elevate the player experience, bring fresh energy to the Lottery’s classic draw game lineup, and provide even more opportunities for retail partners to succeed.

“Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” said Alec Thomson, Executive Director of the Arizona Lottery. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”

The expansion of the Arizona Lottery’s draw games portfolio includes:

  • Massive upgrade to The Pick with an automatic multiplier on every single play, better overall odds of winning and a brand-new instant win add-on called The Pick PLUS
  • Addition of a daily midday drawing for the Pick 3 game
  • Addition of an all-new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings
  • Addition of Powerball Double Play – an exciting add-on offering a second chance to win up to $10 million in a separate drawing immediately following the Powerball drawing

As part of the technology enhancements, Scientific Games upgraded gem | suite, the company’s comprehensive software suite, to accommodate the Arizona Lottery’s expanded draw game portfolio. gem | suite efficiently manages the Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers’ licensing, communications and business intelligence that helps manage products in stores.

“As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.

Scientific Games has been a provider to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands. The company provides services and expertise to the Lottery from its Phoenix location.

Serving 150 lotteries in 50 countries, Scientific Games is the world’s largest lottery games company, the fastest-growing lottery systems provider, and a leading provider of digital lottery solutions. The company is one of the first lottery companies globally certified by the World Lottery Association as a Responsible Gaming Supplier.

Scratchers® is a registered service mark of the California Lottery.

gem | suite®, and Momentum® are trademarks of Scientific Games. © 2026 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The post All Systems Go: Scientific Games Launches New, Advanced Technology for Arizona Lottery appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Arizona Lottery

Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery

Published

on

scientific-games-rolls-out-momentum-systems-upgrade-for-arizona-lottery

New central gaming and retailer management systems support expanded draw game features across the Lottery’s 3,600 retail locations.

Scientific Games said a new suite of systems technology is now powering the Arizona Lottery’s statewide sales, including updates to its draw games portfolio. The rollout is based on Scientific Games’ Momentum ecosystem, incorporating a central gaming system and a retailer management system.

Arizona Lottery Executive Director Alec Thomson said the technology and game changes are intended to modernize operations and refresh the draw game lineup. “Our teams have been working hard behind the scenes with the Scientific Games teams, and we are thrilled to see this project come to life. The changes to our draw games will give our players bigger value, more ways to play and even more chances to win,” Thomson said. “Ultimately, the advanced technology ecosystem modernizes our operations and positions the Arizona Lottery for future growth.”

The Lottery’s draw game changes include an update to The Pick featuring an automatic multiplier on every play and an add-on called The Pick PLUS, the addition of a daily midday drawing for Pick 3, the launch of a new Pick 4 game with midday and evening drawings, and the addition of Powerball Double Play.

Scientific Games said it also upgraded its gem | suite software to support the expanded draw portfolio and to manage retailer licensing, communications and business intelligence across the Arizona Lottery’s network of 3,600 retailers. “As the Arizona Lottery’s systems technology partner since 2015, Scientific Games is focused on readying the Lottery for long-term sustainability through advanced systems and software, and exciting new products that engage players and drive proceeds to the good cause programs that benefit Arizonans,” said John Schulz, President, Americas & Global Instant Products.

Scientific Games has supplied products and services to the Arizona Lottery for 45 years, including Scratchers games and licensed brands, and supports the Lottery from a Phoenix location, according to the company.

The post Scientific Games rolls out Momentum systems upgrade for Arizona Lottery appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania