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3 in 10 Brits Have Skipped a Shower or a Meal to Play Video Games in Lockdown
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.
- FIFA 21 (2.18 million)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1.4 million)
- Grand Theft Auto 5 (1.1 million)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (800,000)
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (660,000)
- The Last of Us Part II (530,000)
- NBA 2K20 (480,000)
- 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!
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Hell Clock targets PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launch on July 14 alongside Cursed War expansion
Rogue Snail and Mad Mushroom moved the console release from June 2 to avoid Path of Exile’s Return of the Ancients update.
Hell Clock will launch on PlayStation 5 and XBox Series X|S on July 14, 2026, with its first major expansion, Cursed War, releasing the same day on consoles and Steam, according to Rogue Snail and publisher Mad Mushroom.
The date was disclosed during the Latin American Games Showcase alongside a new trailer focused on skills coming in Cursed War: youtu.be/cUWtDLd_u6Y.
Rogue Snail said the console edition and expansion were originally planned for a June 2 launch, but were shifted to avoid Path of Exile’s recent Return of the Ancients update.
Cursed War adds a new story act set during the Paraguayan War of 1864–1870, plus “over 10 new environments,” additional skills and relics, new bosses, and new endgame systems including Endless Nightmares and the full version of Ascension, the company said.
Hell Clock is set against a dark fantasy take on real Brazilian history, including the late 19th century War of Canudos, and is built around ARPG progression with roguelike run structure and build customization.
The post Hell Clock targets PS5 and Xbox Series X|S launch on July 14 alongside Cursed War expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
June offers one of the biggest traffic opportunities of 2026. The start of the FIFA World Cup, combined with the NBA Finals, Formula 1 races, Wimbledon, UFC Freedom 250, and major esports tournaments, creates a unique environment for affiliates looking to scale sports and prediction traffic.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 driving global attention and audience engagement to seasonal highs, N1 Partners is launching the N1 Sport Promo from June 10 to July 20 to help affiliates maximise results during the busiest period of the sports calendar.
Key Sports Events in June
N1 Partners team has selected the most important events of the month to help affiliates plan campaigns and drive traffic effectively.
Soccer
The FIFA World Cup dominates the sports calendar and is expected to generate the highest engagement levels of the year.
11.06–19.07 | FIFA World Cup 2026
Key opening-stage matches:
- 11.06 | Mexico vs South Africa
- 12.06 | Canada vs Bosnia
- 13.06 | USA vs Paraguay
- 14.06 | Brazil vs Morocco
- 14.06 | Germany vs Curacao
- 15.06 | Netherlands vs Japan
- 16.06 | France vs Senegal
- 17.06 | Argentina vs Algeria
- 18.06 | England vs Croatia
- 20.06 | Netherlands vs Sweden
- 21.06 | Germany vs Ivory Coast
- 24.06 | England vs Ghana
- 25.06 | Scotland vs Brazil
- 26.06 | Ecuador vs Germany
- 27.06 | Uruguay vs Spain
- 28.06–04.07 | FIFA World Cup Round of 32
MMA
UFC Freedom 250 will make history as the first UFC event ever held at the White House. Set against one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the event will bring together elite fighters, championship bouts, and a unique atmosphere to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
- 14.06 | UFC Freedom 250
Basketball
The NBA Finals remain one of the strongest traffic drivers for North American audiences.
- 04.06–20.06 | NBA Finals Series Begins
Tennis
June combines the final stages of Roland Garros with the beginning of the grass-court season and Wimbledon.
- 08.06–14.06 | WTA London
- 29.06–12.07 | Wimbledon
Formula 1
In June, Formula 1 continues to generate stable engagement from dedicated sports audiences.
- 14.06 | Barcelona Grand Prix
- 28.06 | Austrian Grand Prix
Esports
Major CS2 tournaments continue attracting valuable younger audiences across Tier-1 markets.
- 02.06–21.06 | IEM Cologne 2026
Cricket
Cricket remains one of the most important verticals for many Tier-1 GEOs.
- 09.06 | Bangladesh vs Australia (ODI)
- 11.06 | Bangladesh vs Australia (ODI)
- 25.06 | England vs New Zealand (Test Series)
How to maximize results from event-driven traffic
June is the beginning of the most anticipated sporting event of the year. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off alongside the NBA Finals, Wimbledon, Formula 1 races, and IEM Cologne, affiliates have access to a constant stream of high-intent traffic opportunities.
For partners working with N1 Bet, RollXO, and Lucky Hunter via N1 Partners, this creates favourable conditions to attract new players, increase FTD volumes, and scale campaigns across Tier-1 GEOs.
To make the most of June traffic:
- prioritize World Cup matches and key tournament stages that naturally generate the highest audience engagement;
- prepare event-specific creatives and landing pages, and build content and advertising funnels around match predictions, odds, and tournament storylines.
- increase budgets during high-profile fixtures and knockout rounds;
- test both Sports Betting and Prediction Market offers to capture different audience segments;
- monitor performance daily and scale winning campaigns quickly while demand remains high.
June sports traffic insights
June is all about momentum. This period combines multiple large-scale events running simultaneously, creating continuous demand across different sports audiences.
The FIFA World Cup opening weeks are expected to drive the highest engagement, fuelled by match predictions, team analysis, odds, and live betting. While football will dominate traffic, tennis, Formula 1, esports, and basketball offer valuable diversification and additional scaling opportunities throughout the month.
Affiliates who react quickly to event-driven demand and adapt campaigns to specific sports audiences are likely to see the strongest results during June and the opening stages of the World Cup.
Top promos for N1 Partners projects in June
Every month, N1 Partners launches a series of seasonal promotions across key brands to help partners increase conversions and maximise the value of the traffic they drive to these offers.
Golden Rush Lottery (RollXO, N1 Bet)
Period: 03.06–23.06
Prize pool: €120,000
Summer Rush Lottery (RetroBet, Jet4Bet, Spirit Casino, SlotLounge)
Period: 09.06–14.06
Prize pool: €30,000
Hall of Champions Tournament (Goldex Casino)
Period: 11.06–14.06
Prize pool: €1,500 + 1,000 FS
Celestial Constellation Lottery (Lucky Hunter)
Period: 12.06–21.06
Prize pool: €5,000 + 2,000 FS
Trophy Chase Lottery (SlotLords, SlotsMines)
Period: 17.06–23.06
Prize pool: €7,000 + 3,000 FS
Wanna learn more? Contact your manager right now!
Join N1 Partners
N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, bringing together 14+ casino and betting brands with high LTV and Reg2Dep rates in Tier-1 GEOs.
N1 Partners offers competitive terms for top partners, including CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55%, ensuring stable and scalable performance.
Trusted by 14,000+ partners, N1 Partners stands out for its transparency, flexibility, and focus on long-term partnerships, supported by a strong product portfolio and advanced retention systems.
Haven’t joined N1 Partners yet? Contact the manager, get involved and make the most of the 2026 sports season.
The post Where to Drive Tier-1 Sport Traffic in June World Cup & N1 Sport Promo appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
June offers one of the biggest traffic opportunities of 2026. The start of the FIFA World Cup, combined with the NBA Finals, Formula 1 races, Wimbledon, UFC Freedom 250, and major esports tournaments, creates a unique environment for affiliates looking to scale sports and prediction traffic.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 driving global attention and audience engagement to seasonal highs, N1 Partners is launching the N1 Sport Promo from June 10 to July 20 to help affiliates maximise results during the busiest period of the sports calendar.
Key Sports Events in June
N1 Partners team has selected the most important events of the month to help affiliates plan campaigns and drive traffic effectively.
Soccer
The FIFA World Cup dominates the sports calendar and is expected to generate the highest engagement levels of the year.
11.06–19.07 | FIFA World Cup 2026
Key opening-stage matches:
- 11.06 | Mexico vs South Africa
- 12.06 | Canada vs Bosnia
- 13.06 | USA vs Paraguay
- 14.06 | Brazil vs Morocco
- 14.06 | Germany vs Curacao
- 15.06 | Netherlands vs Japan
- 16.06 | France vs Senegal
- 17.06 | Argentina vs Algeria
- 18.06 | England vs Croatia
- 20.06 | Netherlands vs Sweden
- 21.06 | Germany vs Ivory Coast
- 24.06 | England vs Ghana
- 25.06 | Scotland vs Brazil
- 26.06 | Ecuador vs Germany
- 27.06 | Uruguay vs Spain
- 28.06–04.07 | FIFA World Cup Round of 32
MMA
UFC Freedom 250 will make history as the first UFC event ever held at the White House. Set against one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, the event will bring together elite fighters, championship bouts, and a unique atmosphere to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
- 14.06 | UFC Freedom 250
Basketball
The NBA Finals remain one of the strongest traffic drivers for North American audiences.
- 04.06–20.06 | NBA Finals Series Begins
Tennis
June combines the final stages of Roland Garros with the beginning of the grass-court season and Wimbledon.
- 08.06–14.06 | WTA London
- 29.06–12.07 | Wimbledon
Formula 1
In June, Formula 1 continues to generate stable engagement from dedicated sports audiences.
- 14.06 | Barcelona Grand Prix
- 28.06 | Austrian Grand Prix
Esports
Major CS2 tournaments continue attracting valuable younger audiences across Tier-1 markets.
- 02.06–21.06 | IEM Cologne 2026
Cricket
Cricket remains one of the most important verticals for many Tier-1 GEOs.
- 09.06 | Bangladesh vs Australia (ODI)
- 11.06 | Bangladesh vs Australia (ODI)
- 25.06 | England vs New Zealand (Test Series)
How to maximize results from event-driven traffic
June is the beginning of the most anticipated sporting event of the year. With the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off alongside the NBA Finals, Wimbledon, Formula 1 races, and IEM Cologne, affiliates have access to a constant stream of high-intent traffic opportunities.
For partners working with N1 Bet, RollXO, and Lucky Hunter via N1 Partners, this creates favourable conditions to attract new players, increase FTD volumes, and scale campaigns across Tier-1 GEOs.
To make the most of June traffic:
- prioritize World Cup matches and key tournament stages that naturally generate the highest audience engagement;
- prepare event-specific creatives and landing pages, and build content and advertising funnels around match predictions, odds, and tournament storylines.
- increase budgets during high-profile fixtures and knockout rounds;
- test both Sports Betting and Prediction Market offers to capture different audience segments;
- monitor performance daily and scale winning campaigns quickly while demand remains high.
June sports traffic insights
June is all about momentum. This period combines multiple large-scale events running simultaneously, creating continuous demand across different sports audiences.
The FIFA World Cup opening weeks are expected to drive the highest engagement, fuelled by match predictions, team analysis, odds, and live betting. While football will dominate traffic, tennis, Formula 1, esports, and basketball offer valuable diversification and additional scaling opportunities throughout the month.
Affiliates who react quickly to event-driven demand and adapt campaigns to specific sports audiences are likely to see the strongest results during June and the opening stages of the World Cup.
Top promos for N1 Partners projects in June
Every month, N1 Partners launches a series of seasonal promotions across key brands to help partners increase conversions and maximise the value of the traffic they drive to these offers.
Golden Rush Lottery (RollXO, N1 Bet)
Period: 03.06–23.06
Prize pool: €120,000
Summer Rush Lottery (RetroBet, Jet4Bet, Spirit Casino, SlotLounge)
Period: 09.06–14.06
Prize pool: €30,000
Hall of Champions Tournament (Goldex Casino)
Period: 11.06–14.06
Prize pool: €1,500 + 1,000 FS
Celestial Constellation Lottery (Lucky Hunter)
Period: 12.06–21.06
Prize pool: €5,000 + 2,000 FS
Trophy Chase Lottery (SlotLords, SlotsMines)
Period: 17.06–23.06
Prize pool: €7,000 + 3,000 FS
Wanna learn more? Contact your manager right now!
Join N1 Partners
N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate program and direct advertiser, bringing together 14+ casino and betting brands with high LTV and Reg2Dep rates in Tier-1 GEOs.
N1 Partners offers competitive terms for top partners, including CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55%, ensuring stable and scalable performance.
Trusted by 14,000+ partners, N1 Partners stands out for its transparency, flexibility, and focus on long-term partnerships, supported by a strong product portfolio and advanced retention systems.
Haven’t joined N1 Partners yet? Contact the manager, get involved and make the most of the 2026 sports season.
The post Where to Drive Tier-1 Sport Traffic in June World Cup & N1 Sport Promo appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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