Christmas used to be a magical time for video games. A time of new consoles, dozens of big games to play, and lots of surprises under the Christmas tree waiting to be discovered. I grew up in a family with nine siblings, so having a means of escapism in a bustling house wasn’t just appreciated, but essential if I didn’t want to lose my tiny little mind.
So I turned to video games, and I’ll never forget the Christmas morning when I received a second-hand PS3 and a healthy pile of games featuring bangers like Fallout 3, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Dead Space, SingStar, and a handful of other classics. Yes, I showed my face at dinner and a couple of other times during the festive period, but I otherwise spent way too much time gaming. The same happened with the PS2, although I was far younger back then and mainly remember getting stuck on Final Fantasy 10 and Rayman 3.
Nowadays though, that fantasy feels harder and harder to capture. There are fewer games for kids to fall in love with, and a greater focus on live-services designed to take our money rather than create lasting memories.
Turns Out Most Kids Want Virtual Currency For Christmas
According to a new report published by the Entertainment Software Association, nearly half of kids living in the United States want in-game currency for titles like Fortnite or Roblox for Christmas over traditional games and consoles. 43 percent is the exact number, and there’s a good chance currency like this is wanted to spend on future seasonal updates or specific skins. Given how many millions of young gamers play these things, it’s no surprise they’ve also come to dominate the festive market, even in the form of V-Bucks gift cards.
Fret not though, the very same survey also showcases that traditional consoles and games are still in demand by younger gamers, albeit less so than virtual currency. Of the over 700 children surveyed (ages 5 to 17), 39 percent asked for a video game console and 37 percent physical games instead of digital. I mean, at least that gives them something to unwrap from under the Christmas tree.
The average amount of money adults are willing to spend on their children is $737, although that is hauled up by some extremely expensive responses — the vast majority are likely to spend less than $100.
“Video games are one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world today, with more than 205 million Americans powering up games every week to have fun, relax, and connect with friends and family,” ESA president and CEO Stan Pierre-Louis said in a brief statement accompanying the survey.
“Our research this year shows that kids not only want games, they also want quality time with their families. In a world where people feel increasingly disconnected, playing video games remains one of the easiest – and most fun – ways to stay close to the people we love.”
Video Games Aren’t Just For Christmas…
Video games as a form of entertainment are more popular and profitable than ever before, and remain a huge fixture in the realm of gift-giving during the festive season. But in the two decades that have passed since I was a young kid waiting to see what had been wrapped under the tree, the medium has also evolved significantly.
Live-service titles are the most popular experiences on the planet, while triple-A blockbusters are much less common than ever before. I can still imagine the biggest hits being on many a list, but you aren’t going to see a small child ask for an underrated indie gem from Santa Claus.
Perhaps I’m just old and want younger generations to experience the same world of video games that I did when I was growing up. One where your parents pick up a bunch of random games from a store’s bargain bin, and within that selection sits a favourite that may come to define your entire existence. Gems like Kingdom Hearts or True Crime: Streets of LA that you end up obsessing over for years, even into adulthood. That sort of opportunity doesn’t really exist anymore, not when so few games take up all the breathing room.
The future of this medium is in the hands of people being raised on a steady diet of AI-generated YouTube shorts and Roblox minigames, giving them fewer and fewer chances to discover something magical that makes them fall in love with the medium like I and many others did.
They have to do more of the work themselves, and not all young people are in a position to do so. Having a story-driven masterpiece to surrender yourself to after a luscious Christmas dinner has to be more appealing than donning an Ice Spice skin as you leap from the Battle Bus for the thousandth time…
Fortnite
- Released
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September 26, 2017
- ESRB
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T for Teen – Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
