Majority of U.S. gamers don’t buy games anymore — just two titles a year for most, report finds
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Key points
- 63% of U.S. gamers purchase no more than two games annually, while 33% buy none at all.
- Just 4% of players buy more than one game per month.
- “Hyper enthusiast” buyers are sustaining the non–free-to-play market.
A new report from research firm Circana shows that 63% of U.S. gamers purchase no more than two games per year, while one-third do not buy any new titles annually. The findings were shared by Circana’s Mat Piscatella on Bluesky and come from the company’s Q3 2025 Future of Games report.
Only 4% of U.S. players buy more than one game per month. Meanwhile, 10% purchase a single game each month, and 22% buy a title every three months. The report highlights the increasing reliance on a relatively small segment of frequent buyers to sustain the premium game market. Piscatella noted that “hyper enthusiast, price-insensitive players are really keeping things going,” particularly in the non–free-to-play space.
The data also reflects broader shifts in player behavior. Many gamers now spend extended periods in long-running live-service games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Roblox, Minecraft, GTA Online, Apex Legends, and Valorant, rather than purchasing new releases. Others rely on subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and Netflix Games to access content. A portion of the audience simply shows limited interest in newly released titles.
Although the launch of the Switch 2 has helped boost overall U.S. gaming market performance in 2025, Circana previously reported a decline in spending among younger Americans aged 18–24, suggesting shifting consumption patterns or economic pressures among key demographic groups.
