gaming habits Archives

AppWizard

April 27, 2025

I spent $3,000 on a PC only to play a $20 game. I have zero regrets

Building a personal computer can be expensive, especially with high-end graphics cards. The tendency to overspend, driven by fear of missing out (FOMO), can lead to exceeding budget constraints. The author initially set a budget of ,000 but ended up spending ,000 on a PC primarily for gaming. After upgrading from an Nvidia GTX 1060 to an RTX 4080, the author found that despite the powerful setup, their most-played game was the inexpensive Spelunky 2, which they played for over 600 hours, while high-profile games remained unfinished. The author reflects that a more modest setup could have sufficed and questions whether the extra spending on top-tier components was truly necessary.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

PC Gamers Only Spent 8 Percent Of Their Time Playing New Games Last Year, Report Claims

Recent insights from Newzoo indicate that in 2024, only 8 percent of gaming hours were spent on newly released PC games, with players favoring older titles. Iconic games like Roblox, League of Legends, and Fortnite accounted for 67 percent of total PC playtime, while games released two to five years ago made up 25 percent. In contrast, new releases from 2024 captured only 8 percent of playtime. On consoles, 44 percent of PlayStation playtime and 49 percent of Xbox playtime were attributed to games released six or more years ago, with console gamers dedicating 15 percent of their time to new titles. The competition for player engagement is intense, making it difficult for new games to gain attention despite their quality.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Two thirds of total PC playtime last year was on games that are at least six years old, report says

A recent report from Newzoo indicates that 67% of total hours spent playing PC games last year were dedicated to titles six years old or more, with notable games including Counter Strike 2 and GO (7.1%), League of Legends (6.4%), Roblox (6.2%), DOTA 2 (5.8%), and Fortnite (5.4%). Additionally, 25% of playtime was on games aged two to five years, while only 8% was allocated to 2024 releases. On consoles, 44% of PlayStation and 49% of Xbox playtime was for games over six years old, with 2024 releases accounting for 15% of total playtime. Key 2024 titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, NBA 2K25, and EA Sports FC 25 made up about half of the playtime for new releases on console. The report notes a trend of players engaging with fewer games, averaging 10 on Steam and PlayStation and 9 on Xbox, with a requirement of at least two hours of play for a game to be counted. Financially, yearly console revenues from full-price games reached approximately billion, a 14% decline from 2023, attributed to the weaker release slate in 2024 compared to the previous year.

AppWizard

March 20, 2025

Only 8 Percent Of PC Gaming Time Was Spent On New Games Last Year, Report Claims

Players are increasingly favoring older titles, with only 8 percent of PC gaming hours in 2024 dedicated to newly released games. The report from Newzoo indicates that PC gamers primarily engage with titles at least six years old, with games like Roblox, League of Legends, and Fortnite accounting for 67 percent of total PC playtime. Games released between two to five years ago contribute 25 percent, while new releases from 2024 make up only 8 percent. On consoles, approximately 44 percent of gaming time on PlayStation and 49 percent on Xbox is spent on titles released six or more years ago, with console gamers dedicating 15 percent of their playtime to new releases from 2024. The gaming industry saw over 18,000 games launched on Valve’s platform in 2024, indicating a significant increase in new releases.

AppWizard

February 11, 2025

Minecraft’s Top 5 Tips for Safer Gaming

Minecraft is promoting "Top 5 Tips for Safe Gaming" in recognition of Safer Internet Day on February 11, aimed at supporting families in Australia and New Zealand. Recent statistics show that 89% of individuals aged 8-17 in Australia engage in online gaming, with 40% having interacted with strangers and over half of teen gamers encountering harmful content. In New Zealand, 80% of children aged 8-17 are involved in online gaming, with half of teenagers reporting conflicts with friends due to gaming. The tips include: 1. Understand Online Interactions: Teach children not to share personal information, use reporting tools, and maintain open dialogue about interactions. 2. Set Up A Child Account: Use the Xbox Family Settings App for age-appropriate accounts and content settings. 3. Recognise In-Game Purchases: Differentiate between virtual currency and real money, set spending limits, and review purchase requests. 4. Balance Screen Time: Create a balanced schedule for gaming and other activities, set playtime limits, and encourage breaks. 5. Build a Safe Online World: Help set up private servers, use moderation tools, and organize supervised activities within the game.

AppWizard

February 8, 2025

New study shows 30% of Minecraft players still have their first save

Minecraft is the second-best-selling game of all time. A study by Liquid Web in December 2024 surveyed 1,000 players and found that approximately 30% of Minecraft players still cherish their first save file. Four out of five Gen Z players believe Minecraft will remain popular for at least another decade. A quarter of respondents are willing to pay for new features. Nearly half of those surveyed attribute their ongoing enjoyment to player creativity and user-generated content, while two out of five consider mods and custom servers essential to their experience. The data suggests a vibrant and engaged community, making a Minecraft 2 unlikely in the near future.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

Steam Replay is back, giving you a fresh look at what you’ve been playing in 2024

Steam Replay 2024 provides gamers with a personalized overview of their gaming habits over the past year, featuring statistics such as achievements unlocked, total games played, and longest gaming streaks. The year 2024 has seen notable game releases, including Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Helldivers 2, Balatro, and Hades 2, alongside enduring titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Call of Duty. Users can choose to share or keep their gaming statistics private. A significant trend revealed by Steam Replay is that only 15% of total playtime was spent on new releases in 2024, highlighting the continued popularity of classic games like DOTA 2, GTA 5, and PUBG. The Steam Deck's arrival in Australia has influenced gaming habits, with some users reporting a focus on roguelikes and action games. One user noted V Rising as their most-played title, followed by Hades II, and achieved a total of 643 unlocked achievements.

AppWizard

December 23, 2024

The year’s Steam Replay reveals 85% of Steam users in 2024 spent time playing games released in 2023 or earlier

Only 15 percent of Steam users dedicated time to new releases in 2024, according to Steam Replay 2024. On average, players achieved around 13 accomplishments and engaged with four games throughout the year, with a median longest play streak of six days. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Steam, initially by Wolfire Studios and Dark Catt Studios, now including any developers or individuals who accepted Steam's 30 percent cut on purchases since January 28, 2017, with a motion for class certification recently approved.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Older games dominate Steam as 85% of playtime in 2024 was spent on titles released before this year

Steam gamers have shown a preference for older titles, with 47% of total playtime in 2024 spent on games released between one and seven years ago and 37% on games that are eight years or older. Only 15% of playtime was dedicated to games released in 2024, an increase from 9% the previous year. Live service games like Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, and PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS are currently the most popular on Steam. Despite the popularity of older games, several new titles have been released in 2024, including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Baldur's Gate 3.

AppWizard

December 20, 2024

Only 15% of Steam users have played games released in 2024, but why?

Steam's annual review indicates that only 15% of total playtime in 2024 was spent on new games released that year. In contrast, 47% of playtime was dedicated to games released in the last seven years, and 37% was spent on titles launched eight or more years ago. The popularity of the Steam Deck has influenced player preferences, as many recent AAA games are less compatible with the device. Long-standing live service games like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, and PUBG continue to dominate playtime. The platform hosts over 200,000 titles, leading players to favor older games over the 18,000 released in 2024. Despite the low percentage of playtime for new releases, the figure represents a slight recovery from 17% in 2022, following a downturn in 2023.