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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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AI
QCI to Showcase Agentic Platform Capabilities at IGA 2026
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of AI-driven operations software for tribal gaming resorts, announced it will showcase its evolving QCI Agentic Platform at the Indian Gaming Association (IGA) Tradeshow & Convention, March 31–April 2, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center (Booth #2735).
The QCI Agentic Platform reflects the continued advancement of the company’s enterprise system, enabling operators to move from real-time insight to real-time action across gaming, marketing, player development, and hotel operations. Designed for on-premise and hybrid environments, the platform supports secure, property-level AI deployment while maintaining full operational control.
Rather than introducing a new system, QCI’s approach extends the capabilities operators already use—bringing analysis and execution closer together within a unified operational environment.
“This is a continuation of the platform our customers already rely on. We’re building on what works and extending it, so operators can act on information faster, without changing the way their business runs,” said Dr. Ralph Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of QCI.
The QCI Agentic Platform builds on QCI’s established product suite, including:
• AGI56.1, a major platform release featuring more than 1000 enhancements across operations
• Chatalytics, QCI’s conversational analytics interface for real-time data access
• QCI Dispatch, a new core operational tool supporting real-time coordination and execution
Together, these capabilities enable operators to unify data, streamline workflows, and respond more quickly to changing conditions across the property.
Attendees will experience how QCI connects data, decision-making, and execution within a single operational system.
“We’re focused on practical improvements that help teams do their jobs more effectively. This is about making systems more responsive, more connected, and easier to use in day-to-day operations,” added Thomas.
The post QCI to Showcase Agentic Platform Capabilities at IGA 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Eeze
Eeze signs global partnership with EveryMatrix
Eeze, the next-generation casino supplier, has announced a comprehensive global distribution agreement with EveryMatrix, extending the reach of its live dealer and upcoming slots portfolio to EveryMatrix’s worldwide partner network.
Under the partnership, Eeze’s full range of live dealer titles, including its recently launched Fusion Roulette, alongside forthcoming slot releases, will be made available across EveryMatrix’s Game Aggregator Network. The deal covers EveryMatrix’s active markets globally, marking a key milestone for the supplier’s international expansion.
Mikko Hoglund, Partnership Manager at Eeze, said:
“Partnering with EveryMatrix is an important moment for us as we look to push our games to a wider network of players than ever before. We have a lot of exciting product releases to come in the next few months, and know that these games, as well as our existing portfolio, will be well received across EveryMatrix’s customer base.”
Bjorn Sjoberg, Chief Commercial Officer at EveryMatrix, added:
“We are very pleased to be adding Eeze’s full product suite to our aggregation offering. With best-in-class live products and an exciting array of RNG games on the roadmap, we’re confident that our customers will enjoy the differentiation these titles bring to market.”
With this partnership, Eeze strengthens its footprint in regulated markets and positions its Fusion Roulette and slot titles for maximum visibility, giving operators a compelling mix of content to offer players worldwide.
The post Eeze signs global partnership with EveryMatrix appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Aristocrat Gaming
Aristocrat to Unveil New Class 2 Games at the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention
Aristocrat Gaming and Aristocrat Interactive to unveil a broad portfolio of new products at the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (IGA) in San Diego, Calif., at booth #1629. Among the more than 60 innovations on display, highlights will include the tradeshow premiere of several Class 2 games; Class II Mobile, which bridges the gap between the casino floor and the digital world; Modernized Membership, designed to enhance operator-player relationships; and the newly acquired Gaming Analytics, bringing powerful data-driven insights to operators.
Aristocrat Gaming will reinforce its position as the leader in Class 2 gaming with several tradeshow premieres and expansions of player-favorite game families, including:
• Mr. Money Bags Makes Another Mint is a sequel to the original player-favorite, now with Triple Metamorphic features that can be triggered by themselves, in pairs, or all three at once. Plus, a new Frenzy Cash feature can trigger a wheel bonus for a chance at the Frenzy Jackpots SSP.
• Mr. & Ms. Money Bags brings the ever-popular Mr. Money Bags to a new stepper game and introduces a new VGT character – Ms. Money Bags. This all-new game appears on the new Marquis cabinet with a digital wheel showcase and a double metamorphic that can be triggered independently or together.
• Other titles on display include popular Class 3 hits, now available in Class 2: Coin Trio Buffalo, Spooky Link, and Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Ignite Blue and Red Prosperity.
Hardware also takes center stage, and the company’s games will appear on the industry’s leading cabinets in both Class 2 and Class 3. Aristocrat Gaming will show a breadth of content for The Baron Portrait, The Baron Upright, Crown Bartop, King Max, Marquis, MarsX Portrait, MarsX Upright, and Neptune Single cabinets.
Class 3 titles include Bao Zhu Zhao Fu Firecracker Express, Lightning 10 Year Storm, and Spooky Link Grand, which all recently made their official U.S. debuts. Also on display will be MONOPOLY Big Board Bucks and NFL Super Grand Champions, both first seen by attendees at G2E 2025. Finally, show attendees can look forward to seeing player-favorite titles such as The Hunt for Neptune’s Gold, Crazy Dragons, and Fo Mo Mummy.
Gaming Systems from Aristocrat Interactive are modernizing both the cardless and cashless membership journey, all while increasing operator efficiency, player loyalty, and maximizing loyalty programs. Software solutions on display include OASIS Loyalty, OASIS Connect, PlayerMax, and Oasis Digital Wallet. Transformative hardware solutions in the booth include nCompass and Intelligent Card Reader Pro.
Aristocrat Interactive iGaming & Sports will display the Class II Mobile Solution. Class II Mobile bridges the gap between the casino floor and the digital world by delivering player-favorite games anytime, anywhere on approved tribal gaming land. Class II Mobile is a full turn-key solution and is built on a proven tech stack. It extends the casino brand directly into players’ hands and helps to boost retention with built-in loyalty and real-time engagement, all while offering geolocation solutions. Class II Mobile can evolve into a full-scale digital ecosystem with built-in Sports and iGaming PAM built to scale.
Gaming Analytics, recently acquired by Aristocrat, is a U.S.-based provider of A.I. technology for real-time player analytics, slot optimization, and marketing automation, designed to work alongside traditional casino management systems. At IGA, Gaming Analytics will exhibit at booth #1406 with live demonstrations across slots, database marketing, and player development. The company will present examples of how casino teams use GA’s A.I. to reduce operational friction, speed decision-making, send real-time insights to host teams through its mobile app, and gain clearer floor visibility to identify performance issues.
The post Aristocrat to Unveil New Class 2 Games at the 2026 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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