Industry Facts: In the US, there are 2,322 video game developer locations across all 50 states and 526 game publisher locations across 44 states.
Industry Facts: The average compensation for a video game industry employee is $97,000.
Industry Facts: The US video game industry directly and indirectly employs more than 220,000 people.
Industry Facts: The video game industry added $11.7 billion to US GDP in 2015.
Industry Facts: In 2016, 88 percent of games rated by the ESRB received a rating of E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), or T (Teen).
Industry Facts: Gamers age 18 or older represent 72 percent of the video game-playing population, and the average gamer is 35 years old.
Industry Facts: Adult women represent a greater portion of the video game-playing population (31 percent) than boys under age 18 (18 percent).
Industry Facts: 67 percent of parents play video games with their children at least once a week.
Industry Facts: There are 2.6 billion gamers in the world today, according to the latest Internet Trends report by venture capitalist Mary Meeker.
Industry Facts: The global audience of core esports fans is predicted to reach 286 million by 2020, according to Nielsen.
Industry Facts: 521 American colleges and universities offer video game-related programs.
Industry Facts: 71 percent of parents feel video games positively impact their child’s life.
Industry Facts: More than a quarter of the video game-playing population is age 50 or older.
Industry Facts: 90 percent of parents whose children play video games are present when games are purchased or rented.
Industry Facts: Of the most frequent video game players, 53 percent play multiplayer games at least once a week.
Industry Facts: 65 percent of US households are home to at least one person who plays three or more hours of video games a week.
Industry Facts: Americans spent $30.4 billion on video games, hardware, and accessories in 2016.

Improving What Matters

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ESA Announces Stanley Pierre-Louis as its Next President and CEO

ESA Announces Stanley Pierre-Louis as its Next President and CEO

Entertainment industry veteran to lead association during a period of rapid growth and change in the global video game industry WASHINGTON – May 13, 2019 […]

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65% of American Adults Enjoy Playing Video Games

65% of American Adults Enjoy Playing Video Games

New study debunks common misconceptions associated with video game players WASHINGTON – May 9, 2019 – More than 164 million adults in the United States […]

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Entertainment Software Association Applauds Appointment of Karyn Temple as Register of Copyrights

Entertainment Software Association Applauds Appointment of Karyn Temple as Register of Copyrights

WASHINGTON — March 27, 2019 — The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the U.S. video game industry, welcomed today’s announcement by the Librarian of […]

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Entertainment Software Association Begins 2019 With Six New Member Companies

Entertainment Software Association Begins 2019 With Six New Member Companies

ESA Adds Industry Heavyweights, including Riot Games and SEGA of America, to Membership WASHINGTON—February 7, 2019—Today, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) welcomed as new members […]

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U.S. Video Game Sales Reach Record-Breaking $43.4 Billion in 2018

U.S. Video Game Sales Reach Record-Breaking $43.4 Billion in 2018

WASHINGTON – January 22, 2019 – The U.S. video game industry generated a record $43.4 billion in revenue in 2018, up 18 percent from 2017, according […]

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Extra Life

Q&A with Extra Life’s Michael Kinney

Q&A with Extra Life’s Michael Kinney

Michael Kinney is managing director of digital fundraising and Extra Life at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Since its inception in 2008, Extra Life has raised […]

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Around the Industry

Tell the Story, Play the Myth: How Video Games Translate Folk Tales
9/5/18
‘Pokémon Go’ Dev Niantic, Knight Foundation Create Fellowship Program
9/10/18
Video games are an underrated art form
9/10/18
Read About Industry Discussions

ESA's Commitments

  • Each year, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation brings together more than 600 members of the video game community to raise funds for scholarships and other critical education and digital learning programs at Nite to Unite (NTU).

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  • Parent Resources

    ESA is committed to helping parents make sure that children are safe online and playing video games their parents consider appropriate. Through the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), the association has voluntarily established numerous tools to help parents make educated game choices...

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  • ESA Foundation

    Created by the American entertainment software industry in 2000, the ESA Foundation (ESAF) provides scholarships to the next generation of industry innovators and supports charitable organizations and schools that leverage entertainment software and technology...

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ESA Members

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Around the Industry

Tell the Story, Play the Myth: How Video Games Translate Folk Tales
9/5/18
‘Pokémon Go’ Dev Niantic, Knight Foundation Create Fellowship Program
9/10/18
Video games are an underrated art form
9/10/18
Read About Industry Discussions

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