Grandparents Are Leveling Up: Report Reveals Surprising ‘Generational Shift’ in Gaming originally appeared on Parade.
Grandparents are no longer just watching kids play video games — they’re joining in!
A new report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) shows that adults aged 50 and older now make up 29% of U.S. gamers, a sharp climb from just 9% in 1999.
The study also revealed that the average gamer is now 36 years old, and women make up 47% of all U.S. players.
Gender parity is particularly pronounced among older players: women in the Boomer generation actually outpace men in participation (52% vs. 46%), while even women in the Silent Generation (80 – 90 years old) play at the same rate as their male peers.
“This is a generational shift,” an Mobile Premiere League spokesperson said. “The 50+ cohort is expanding because games now fit their lives, have intuitive UX, bite-sized sessions, and cross-play with family. As lifelong players keep aging in, they’re redefining who a ‘gamer’ is and reshaping design and community norms.”
The demographic shift has been decades in the making. By 2004, 17% of gamers were over 50. By 2024, that number had nearly doubled, thanks to the rise of mobile platforms and accessible design that accelerated the trend.
The movement isn’t limited to the U.S. — gaming is a global industry with 3.32 billion players worldwide, a figure expected to surpass 3.5 billion in 2025.
According to the ESA, Asia leads with 1.48 billion gamers, followed by Europe at 715 million and North America at 285 million.
Grandparents Are Leveling Up: Report Reveals Surprising ‘Generational Shift’ in Gaming first appeared on Parade on Aug 19, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
