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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!
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: 3 in 10 Brits Have Skipped a Shower or a Meal to Play Video Games in Lockdown

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Adventure Awaits in Boat Bonanza CrocoNile!
Play’n GO takes players on an unforgettable expedition to Egypt’s legendary Nile in Boat Bonanza CrocoNile!, filled with thrills, spills, and crocodile chills!
Captain Jim and Jane Bonanza are here, sailing into the exotic and mysterious waters of the Nile. Legend speaks of untold treasures hidden beneath its waters, guarded fiercely by crocodiles and the ominous Curse of Sobek. Fans of the Bonanza series and Egyptian adventures will find plenty to love in this latest journey packed with intriguing gameplay and captivating storytelling.
Boat Bonanza CrocoNile! introduces players to heart-pounding gameplay across a vibrant 5-reel, 12-payline slot. Experience thrilling features like Croc Carnage, where crocodiles swim onto the reels upgrading Catch Symbols, and Sobek’s Rage, an intense Lock’n Spin feature with escalating multipliers up to x10. Instant Prize rewards and engaging random features such as Spear Shot and Depth Charge add layers of excitement and align with Play’n GO’s dedication to innovative gameplay.
Fans who enjoyed previous Boat Bonanza adventures or Egyptian-themed slots such as Legacy of Egypt and Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead will find Boat Bonanza CrocoNile! irresistible. The game masterfully blends adventurous exploration with exotic Egyptian mystique, reminiscent of previous successful Bonanza titles, ensuring it will resonate deeply with players.
George Olekszy, Head of Game Retention at Play’n GO, said:
“Boat Bonanza CrocoNile! encapsulates everything players loved about our Bonanza series, but elevates the excitement with thrilling new mechanics. We’re confident that the game’s adventurous theme and innovative features will keep players coming back for more.”
With its engaging narrative, action-packed gameplay, and visually stunning setting, Boat Bonanza CrocoNile! is poised to be an adventurous addition to any slot enthusiast’s favourites.
The post Adventure Awaits in Boat Bonanza CrocoNile! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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WinSpirit Casino Earns AskGamblers Certificate of Trust
WinSpirit is proud to announce that it has officially received the Certificate of Trust from AskGamblers—one of the most respected accolades an online casino can achieve. This certificate is awarded only to platforms that demonstrate exceptional standards in key areas such as fast payouts, high player ratings, and a strong commitment to responsible gambling. It reflects WinSpirit’s dedication to player satisfaction and further strengthens the brand’s reputation as a trustworthy, high-performing casino.
With this recognition, WinSpirit reaffirms its promise to players: that their funds and personal data are protected, their rights are upheld, and their experience is both fair and rewarding.
“Receiving the Certificate of Trust is not just a badge of honour – it reflects the daily effort we put into building a casino that players and partners can rely on” — says Kate Van Engelen, PR Manager at WinSpirit.
“It motivates us to continue setting the bar high in fairness, support, and transparency,” she added.
AskGamblers is an acclaimed casino affiliate website, renowned for offering players unbiased, accurate, and up-to-date information about online casinos. The AskGamblers Certificate of Trust now takes pride of place on the WinSpirit website, serving as a clear symbol of quality, reliability, and transparency.
With over 17,000 games, a wide range of payment methods, 24/7 customer support, and generous bonuses, WinSpirit continues to set the standard for excellence in online gaming.
The post WinSpirit Casino Earns AskGamblers Certificate of Trust appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Mindway AI partners with BetComply to scale safer gambling support
Mindway AI, the award-winning safer gambling software company, has enlisted the skill set of BetComply, iGaming’s most trusted technical and regulatory compliance firm, as it looks to further develop its product offering and support more operators.
The partnership will see BetComply’s Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist Jez White and his team advising Mindway AI on how its solutions can be best incorporated into operators’ safer gambling functions.
BetComply will also provide support on Mindway AI’s product roadmap and new business opportunities, with a focus on GameScanner, an advanced software solution that helps gambling operators boost player protection and intervene early to prevent at-risk gambling behaviour.
BetComply’s Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist Jez White said: “Mindway AI is at the cutting edge of safer gambling technology, and we’re excited to support their mission to raise the industry standard. Our goal is to help bridge the gap between innovation and implementation, ensuring operators can fully harness tools like GameScanner to deliver more effective, proactive player protection.”
Mindway AI’s CEO Rasmus Kjaergaard added: “We’re thrilled to be working with BetComply, where Jez and his team’s vast operational experience will be a huge asset as we continue delivering our award-winning software to more clients. We’re excited about what we can achieve together.”
In March, White joined BetComply as the firm’s first Safer Gambling & Sustainability Specialist, following more than eight years at Entain, where he served as Director of Player Protection Systems and Analytics.
The post Mindway AI partners with BetComply to scale safer gambling support appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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