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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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BetOnGames launches Cricket Strike Crash for its crash games portfolio
BetOnGames, the instant games vertical of the BETCORE ecosystem, has launched Cricket Strike Crash, a sports-themed crash game, the company said on June 4, 2026.
Cricket Strike Crash uses a real-time multiplier that increases while the round continues, with players choosing when to cash out before the crash. BetOnGames positions the title for fast-cycle play and mobile-first sessions.
The game ships with a stated RTP of 97.5% and medium volatility. BetOnGames also says Cricket Strike Crash uses a “provably fair system” designed to provide transparency on outcomes.
Cricket Strike Crash joins BetOnGames’ wider instant games catalogue within BETCORE, alongside TVBET and ElCasino. The group offers operators access to crash games, instant win games and slots via a single B2B integration, according to the company.
A product video is available here.
The post BetOnGames launches Cricket Strike Crash for its crash games portfolio appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Eastern Europe
FeedConstruct locks up exclusive Romanian football data and streaming rights
Deal covers Romania’s FA Cup, Super Cup, Liga 2 and Liga 3, women’s Superliga and national team matches, plus Liga 1 Futsal.
FeedConstruct has signed an agreement to secure exclusive data and video streaming rights for a portfolio of Romanian football competitions, the company said.
FeedConstruct said the rights are held on an exclusive basis across the full season and expand its European football content for betting operators.
The agreement covers the Romanian FA Cup, Super Cup, Men’s Liga 2 and Liga 3, Superliga Women, Women’s National Team matches, and Liga 1 Futsal competitions.
Financial terms, contract duration beyond “the full season,” and any distribution or integrity safeguards were not disclosed.
The post FeedConstruct locks up exclusive Romanian football data and streaming rights appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Aztec Spell – Hold & Hit 3x3
Spinomenal releases Aztec Spell – Hold & Hit 3×3
Spinomenal has released Aztec Spell – Hold & Hit 3×3, adding a new Hold & Hit title to its slots portfolio.
The game runs on a 3×3 reel set and uses the Quetzal Bird as the Wild, substituting for all symbols except Bonus symbols. Two special Bonus symbols drive the main feature: Bonus symbols can land only on reels one and three, while Bonus Collect can land only on reel two.
The Bonus Game triggers when Bonus Collect lands alongside one or more Bonus symbols. Triggering symbols lock and the feature starts with three spins; during the feature only Bonus and Bonus Collect symbols can appear. Each spin can award multipliers of x1, x2, x5, x7, x10, and x15, and the round ends after three spins without a win or when total collected winnings reach the max x5000 multiplier.
Spinomenal said Grand, Major, Minor, and Mini in-game jackpot symbols can appear during the feature and pay immediately. A Bonus Blast feature can also trigger randomly to add extra Bonus and Bonus Collect symbols, and Spinomenal said Bonus Collect can still collect values even if it lands without starting the Bonus Game.
Spinomenal CO-CEO, Omer Henya commented: “Aztec Spell – Hold & Hit 3×3 casts players into a mysterious jungle on the hunt for Aztec riches enhanced by some cool gameplay features. The titles’s beautiful visuals and proven Hold & Hit mechanics come together perfectly to give players an experience for the ages.”
The post Spinomenal releases Aztec Spell – Hold & Hit 3×3 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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