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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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Kick and TikTok stream runs June 11–July 19, covering 15,000 miles and promoting fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK.
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE) and its digital wallet Skrill are sponsoring a 39-day US “In A State” soccer road trip led by creators Woody & Kleiny, with live coverage starting June 11 from Jacksonville. The tour is set to run 15,000 miles and stream 24/7 on Kick and TikTok.
Paysafe said the tour will include creator-led content and in-person activations designed to spotlight payment processing for local merchants—such as bars, restaurants, hotels and retailers—along the route. The company is positioning its merchant acquiring and POS-related offerings alongside Skrill consumer wallet use cases during match-day and fan events.
The trip also includes fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK, with donations directed to the official Woody & Kleiny GoFundMe page. The press release notes prostate cancer is “now the most common cancer in the U.K. and the only major cancer without a screening program.”
“This tour puts Paysafe and Skrill at the heart of the action, powering the moments that matter most,” said Alisa Barber, Chief Marketing Officer at Paysafe. “Woody & Kleiny have an extraordinary ability to turn everyday life into must-watch content and combining that with our technology demonstrates how seamless payments can lift every experience.”
Stops listed include Los Angeles (June 12), Arlington, TX (June 17), Boston (June 23) and East Rutherford, NJ (June 25 and 27), with additional cities planned as the tournament progresses. Paysafe said the livestream will be supported by daily YouTube recaps and short-form social content.
The post Paysafe and Skrill sponsor Woody & Kleiny’s 39-day US soccer road trip livestream appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
Paysafe and Skrill get on board with Woody & Kleiny’s Outrageous US Soccer Road Trip: 39 Days, 15,000 Miles, Streamed Live 24/7
Spotlighting business payments and consumer digital wallet experiences for soccer fans, the ‘In A State’ tour brings viral creators together for a live celebration of soccer and fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK
Paysafe (NYSE: PSFE), a global payments platform, is taking its technology to the heart of America’s biggest soccer summer, fueling a 39-day, 15,000-mile streamed road trip powered by viral creators Woody & Kleiny.
Known as the ‘In A State’ tour, this record-breaking journey streams live on Kick and TikTok from June 11, as Woody & Kleiny tear through major cities including Los Angeles, Arlington, Boston and East Rutherford, engaging soccer fans and shining a spotlight on the businesses that make these places tick. The tour will also raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK, supporting life-saving research, earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for men affected by prostate cancer, which is now the most common cancer in the U.K. and the only major cancer without a screening program.
Paysafe is the payments engine sponsoring the tour, putting its processing solutions for businesses and its consumer facing digital wallet, Skrill, center stage. Through 24/7 live streaming, in-person activations and creator-led content, Paysafe’s technology will come to life in the most authentic setting imaginable: the real-world energy of America’s biggest soccer tournament.
Woody & Kleiny have built one of the world’s largest creator communities, reaching more than 50 million followers across online platforms and generating over 45 billion views.
Paysafe Spotlights Local Businesses
Paysafe will spotlight local businesses, including bars, restaurants, hotels, and retailers, across the route. Woody & Kleiny will showcase Paysafe-powered payment solutions for local merchants via live interactions.
As part of its broader commitment to supporting businesses, Paysafe provides integrated payment solutions tailored to the needs of local merchants. This includes POS technology such as payment devices, competitive payment processing offerings, and value-added services designed to help businesses operate more efficiently. Through these activations, Paysafe will demonstrate how its solutions enable businesses to streamline operations, manage peak demand, and deliver seamless payment experiences.
Skrill: The Wallet That Moves at the Speed of the Game
Paysafe’s digital wallet Skrill will be front and center across the entire ‘In A State’ tour. From fan giveaways to real-time digital payments, Skrill will enable fast, secure transactions within high-energy environments. Fans will interact with Skrill through on-the-ground activations, digital rewards, and integrated content moments — proving that a great digital wallet doesn’t just make payments easier, it makes every experience better.
Through these activations, Skrill will play a visible role in powering fan engagement, from rewarding participation to enabling seamless transactions in real time, demonstrating how the digital wallet can enhance every moment of the fan journey.
“This tour puts Paysafe and Skrill at the heart of the action, powering the moments that matter most,” said Alisa Barber, Chief Marketing Officer at Paysafe. “Woody & Kleiny have an extraordinary ability to turn everyday life into must-watch content and combining that with our technology demonstrates how seamless payments can lift every experience.”
The stream will be complemented by daily YouTube recaps, short-form social content, celebrity appearances and real-time fan engagement — reaching audiences across the globe. Paysafe branding will be unmissable throughout: on the tour bus, across activations, and at the center of every major match-day moment.
For Paysafe, this tour shows how world-class payment technology, the right partners and the biggest sporting event of the decade can come together to create something genuinely extraordinary, while also raising vital awareness and funds for prostate cancer. Fans can donate to Prostate Cancer UK via the official Woody & Kleiny GoFundMe page.
Follow, watch and engage with the tour across Woody & Kleiny, Paysafe and Skrill’s social channels.
Tour Route and Key Stops
Woody & Kleiny will travel through major U.S. cities, where soccer fans will be gathering throughout the tournament.
Key stops include:
- Los Angeles (June 12),
- Arlington, TX (June 17),
- Boston (June 23)
- East Rutherford, NJ on June 25 and 27
Other cities as the tournament unfolds.
The post Paysafe and Skrill get on board with Woody & Kleiny’s Outrageous US Soccer Road Trip: 39 Days, 15,000 Miles, Streamed Live 24/7 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Deal covers travel and hospitality packages across BLAST’s event slate, starting with BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals in November.
BLAST has signed a one-year partnership with MATCH to develop premium fan travel experiences and related commercial opportunities across BLAST events in 2026 and 2027, including the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals 2026. The companies said the work will start immediately, with an initial focus on the BLAST Premier Hong Kong Rivals event in November.
BLAST VP of Destinations and Market Development James Woollard said: “We’re thrilled to partner with MATCH, a company with an unrivalled track record in delivering top-tier fan travel experiences at the biggest sporting events in the world. As BLAST continues to grow globally and attract growing numbers of travelling fans, this partnership represents an exciting opportunity to further elevate the live event experience for fans and audiences across esports.”
MATCH is best known for hospitality and accommodation programmes at major sports events, including four consecutive FIFA World Cups
from 2010 to 2022, as well as Ryder Cup tournaments, Formula 1 Grands Prix and ATP tennis tournaments. MATCH Director of UK Events and Business Strategy Richard Parker said: “Esports is one of the most exciting growth frontiers in live entertainment, and BLAST stands out as a world-class platform with incredible potential. At MATCH, we see a tremendous opportunity to bring our expertise in creating premium fan experiences into the esports arena. We are very enthusiastic about the possibility of working together with BLAST to deliver innovative, unforgettable experiences for esports fans worldwide.”
BLAST said MATCH will also bring its network of clients, sponsors, federations, agents and media partners to support international attendance and partner activation, alongside MATCH’s technology and operational infrastructure. The announcement follows BLAST’s 2025 live events activity, where the organiser said it delivered 15 arena shows across 10 countries spanning five titles and sold 194,421 tickets.
The post BLAST partners with MATCH on premium fan travel for 2026-27 events appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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