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New Research Reveals 64% of British Gamers Have Increased Their Playtime Over the pandemic
Future plc, the global platform for specialist media and home to leading games sites Gamesradar+ and PC gamer, has shared the results of a new research that examines the state of gaming in the UK.
The research reveals 64% of British gamers have increased their playtime over the pandemic. While two-thirds put this down to increased free time, more than a quarter (27%) said it allowed them to socialise with friends and 16% with strangers.
The research, completed in January 2022, was collected via an online survey of 1032 UK respondents – all recruited independently through Future plc’s independent research platform The Lens. All respondents owned a gaming device and had expressed an active interest in gaming during the previous six months. The nationally-representative survey contained in-depth questions about console and device ownership, next-gen consideration, and other related gaming behaviours among British gamers.
The survey found women are more likely than men to have embraced gaming through the pandemic, with 24% stating their interest increased compared to 15% of men. This trend is especially clear in the mobile gaming space, with women on average spending 11 hours and 50 minutes gaming on phones or tablets per week, compared to 10 hour and 37 minutes for men. Mobile gamers as a whole listed puzzle and word games as their favourite genre, a passion reflected internationally this year with the Wordle “phenomenon” resulting in the New York Times’ purchase of the popular vocabulary puzzle.
Another widely-reported trend, the explosion of digital driven by the pandemic has re-shaped the industry, with the Big Tech giants investing in streaming, digital-only formats, and the “Metaverse”. However, the physical format is still beloved by a significant number of gamers. While 56% of UK gamers have purchased a game digitally in the past 12 months, 42% have bought physical copies, representing a still significant slice of the revenue pie for games manufacturers.
When it comes to consoles, the PlayStation 4 remains the most popular among gamers (29%), followed by the Wii (21%) and Nintendo Switch (18%). Meanwhile, the uptake of next-gen consoles is increasing steadily despite ongoing supply chain issues limiting availability, with 54% intending to buy one in the next year. In this area the PlayStation 5 wins the market; 17% of gamers own one, compared to the 8% who own the XBox Series X and 7% who own the Series S. However, next gen units have ground to make up compared to legacy consoles, with many respondents stating they do not spend enough time gaming to warrant an upgrade (24%). When asked what they would consider purchasing in the future, almost all respondents (96%) cited buying peripheral items related to gaming, led by more than half (51%) who desire a VR headset.
The survey also revealed a passion for PC and Laptop gamers to invest in their devices, with 60% of this audience in the UK intending to upgrade either their whole unit, or parts within it. Future’s audience, in particular, is more likely to invest further in improving their gaming setup than the total population, creating a significant opportunity for gaming hardware manufacturers to reach this passionate and informed audience, and influence where this considerable passion-spend will go.
“We have studied and tracked consumer behaviour in gaming to help us react quickly to the changing demands of our 61.2m global gaming enthusiasts. It’s clear from the study, the gaming industry has flourished during the pandemic, with more people than ever choosing to spend their free time on their favourite device. The rising number of female gamers – especially in the mobile sector – should come as no surprise for those who have been paying attention over the last few years, but they are still an underserved portion of gamers. Though FIFA, Call of Duty Warzone and Call of Duty Black Ops proved to be the most popular games this year, our survey revealed women players prefer casual games which should make advertisers pause for thought,” Richard Thomas, Insights Director at Future, said.
“With Future now reaching 52.6m adults in the UK on a monthly basis, in sectors that include women’s lifestyle and wealth, as well as tech and gaming, our audiences are crucial for gaming brands looking to hit the sweet spot with their ecommerce and advertising campaigns. As gaming becomes increasingly mainstream amongst people in all walks of life, the ability to reach audiences in a variety of sectors and niches will be crucial for the gaming industry through 2022 and beyond,” Richard Thomas added.

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Esports organisation G2 returns to Kings League Germany with G2 FC, building on a groundbreaking debut
Reading Time: 3 minutes
- G2, one of the world’s leading global esports and entertainment brands, is back in Kings League Germany for its second season
- G2 FC, the football team created by G2, finished 3rd in Kings League Germany in its debut season and qualified for the Kings League World Cup
- G2’s competitive DNA, innovation, and storytelling has made them the number 1 supported esports team by German fans, with 46.33% naming the team their favourite, according to recent findings from Esports Bund Deutschland
- Season 2 brings back leadership with Ron Stublla as Team Manager and Malik Hadziavdic as Head Coach, building on the strong foundation established in Season 1
- New presidents for 2026 – Mohammed ‘MoAuba’ Harkous – professional EAFC player (World Championship winner and 5x German champion) and Konygebony – German lifestyle influencer and rapper
- By bridging traditional football and esports, G2 FC continues to expand the boundaries of sports entertainment and engage audiences across platforms and generations
G2, one of the world’s leading esports and entertainment brands, has announced the return of its football team, G2 FC, to Kings League Germany for its second season. The team officially kicked off the season on October 12th, building on a debut that saw them finish 3rd in the league, qualify for the Kings League World Cup and were the second most watched team in Germany (via Esports Charts). Quickly winning over fans across Germany, G2 FC blends high-level performance, innovation, and storytelling to deliver a unique football and esports experience.
Kings League Germany officially launched its second season on October 12, 2025, in Cologne with an event announcing the new rosters and pro kits for teams competing in the tournament. Part of the global 7-a-side Kings League, founded in 2022 by former FC Barcelona and Spanish national team player Gerard Piqué, the German league features two groups of four teams competing throughout October and November at MMC Studios Cologne, culminating in the Final Four on November 15. The German Kings League Cup winner will advance to the European Final in Berlin on November 22, facing teams from Spain and Italy at the Velodrom.
This season, G2 FC returns with continuity, tactical expertise, and renewed energy as it enters its second season. The team continues to showcase G2’s commitment to innovation and cross-cultural sports experiences, providing a platform to merge traditional football with esports and entertainment. By engaging fans across live and digital channels and exploring new media genres and formats, G2 FC is helping position Kings League as the future of sports entertainment, where esports meets football.
G2 FC is bringing back Team Manager Ron Stublla, whose background in Sports Management and experience in the Youth Bundesliga provide strong leadership on and off the pitch, alongside Head Coach Malik Hadziavdic, a former member of the German National Futsal team and player for FC Liria Berlin in the Futsal Bundesliga, who combines tactical knowledge with hands-on playing experience. The presidents for the club have changed, however, and G2 FC welcomes Mohammed ‘MoAuba’ Harkous, a professional EAFC player who’s a World Championship winner and 5x German champion, and Konygebony, a German lifestyle influencer and rapper. Tarik Haadziavdic, Kevin Moreira, Ahmed Omeirat and Cihan Ucar return to the squad for another season alongside a line-up of exciting new players that qualified for the team after a series of trials in Berlin.
2025 marks G2’s 10-year anniversary, highlighting a decade of growth into a global esports powerhouse with teams across multiple regions and long-standing partnerships with brands such as Mastercard, Red Bull, Ralph Lauren, Jägermeister and Herman Miller. Expansion into traditional sports remains a key pillar for G2, and its strong connection to fans is clear, with 46.33% of German esports fans naming G2 their favourite team. This connection drives its approach in Kings League, offering a fresh way to experience football by blending sport, entertainment, and digital innovation while bringing competitive excellence, creativity, and a fan-first mindset to engage the next generation of sports fans.
Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2, comments: “Our debut season in Kings League Germany demonstrated the potential of combining esports and traditional sports. For Season 2, we are focused on delivering new content, connecting with fans in innovative ways, and pushing the boundaries of what sports entertainment can achieve. G2 FC perfectly aligns to our long-term vision of blending competitive performance with storytelling and digital innovation for the next generation of sports fans.”
G2 FC’s return reinforces the organisation’s commitment to redefining sports and esports. With returning leadership, fresh talent, dynamic content, and a passionate fanbase, the team is ready to make Season 2 its most exciting chapter yet.
The post Esports organisation G2 returns to Kings League Germany with G2 FC, building on a groundbreaking debut appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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PARIMATCH REVEALS ACTION-PACKED NEW UFC AD CAMPAIGN
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Featuring cinematic storytelling and powerful visuals, the content reinforces Parimatch’s passion for pushing boundaries alongside UFC
Parimatch’s latest campaign brings cinematic flair and raw intensity to the screen, capturing the emotion and energy required to compete in the world’s premier mixed martial arts organisation. The campaign builds on major sports partnerships that have made Parimatch a global backer of professional sports, with a strong presence across Asia and the MENA regions. Released ahead of UFC 321: ASPINALL vs GANE, it sets the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable event.
The innovative campaign labelled “Get Closer. Feel Everything” redefines fan connection, bringing audiences closer than ever to the intensity of the Octagon®. Raw energy. Elite strikes. Heart-stopping moments. Experience what TV screens can never capture.
“UFC has always been personal – first for me, then for Parimatch,” said Sergey Portnov, CEO of Parimatch. “I grew up dreaming of becoming a pro fighter, training Muay Thai twice a day to the extreme. That passion never left me, and it evolved into years of partnership with the UFC. As someone who lives and breathes combat sports, I know fight fans want more than watching through screens – they want to feel the cage shake, to experience raw, unfiltered access to the Octagon®. This is only the beginning. Campaigns like this will drive our fan engagement strategy as we expand into new regions and strengthen our global presence.
Video: youtube.com/watch?v=T-fTXXrkwCY
Beyond the Screen: Where Real UFC Lives
Most fans watch fights through a screen and miss the thunderous roar of the crowd, the powerful force behind every strike, and the electric tension that fills inside the arena – now Parimatch is changing the game entirely. The campaign delivers cinematic-quality content that brings viewers closer to the Octagon® for every jaw-dropping knockout, lightning-fast dodge, and emotional victory celebration.
The high-octane video captures:
- Recreations of UFC events, showcasing the raw power and precision that makes champions
- Unfiltered athlete emotions – from the focused intensity before the fight to the explosive celebrations after victory
- Crowd energy that makes your pulse race and adrenaline surge
- Music-synced editing that amplifies every moment of impact and triumph
The post PARIMATCH REVEALS ACTION-PACKED NEW UFC AD CAMPAIGN appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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RTG Announces Evive Australia as the First Innovation to Take the Stage at Pitch!
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Regulating the Game (RTG) has announced Evive Australia as the first innovation to take the stage at Pitch! – part of the annual RTG gathering in Sydney in March.
The event will take place at the famous Sydney Opera House on 9 March 2026, as part of the sixth edition of the international regulatory and industry conference.
Evive is an app designed to help people change how they play or seek support for gambling harms. Created by Sam DeMello, a tech specialist drawing on his lived experience of gambling harm, and supported by Jay Robinson, a safer-gambling expert with over two decades of harm-minimisation and prevention experience, Evive Australia aims to deliver personalised tools, resources and pathways for anyone seeking to reduce risk or access help.
“Evive brings together real-world experience, clinical expertise and technology to create an accessible and credible platform for change. Pitch! was conceived to spotlight exactly these kinds of innovations – ideas that challenge convention, improve safeguards and reimagine the future of regulation and industry practice,” said Paul Newson, Principal at Vanguard Overwatch and founder of Regulating the Game.
“Evive isn’t just another app, it’s a bridge between lived experience, behavioral science and practical support. It shows that compliance and compassion can coexist, and when they do, everyone benefits. The app gives regulators and operators confidence in credible harm reduction tools, while giving people a safe, stigma free path to change,” Robinson said.
The post RTG Announces Evive Australia as the First Innovation to Take the Stage at Pitch! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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