Policy Positions

Digital Wellness

Digital Wellness

Video games are fun, often educational and, increasingly, therapeutic. Billions of players worldwide enjoy video games as part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. The ability of people around the world to continue to benefit from this technology depends upon policies that foster and celebrate gameplay.

Video games are fun, often educational and, increasingly, therapeutic. More and more people report that video games provide stress relief while creating positive mental stimulation. Medical professionals and health experts now recognize the benefits of gameplay, employing games to achieve positive health outcomes for patients of all ages. The ability of players, students, patients and numerous others around the world to continue to benefit from this technology depends upon policies that foster and celebrate gameplay for the billions of players who enjoy video games as part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.

The video game industry supports digital wellness by providing information and tools for all audiences to make educated, age-appropriate decisions regarding video games. Nearly all video game devices offer parental controls. These tools offer parents and players the ability to efficiently set preferences that are appropriate for their household. These controls enable parents to block video games by age rating category, manage the amount of money their kids can spend playing video games and limit the amount of time their kids can spend playing video games.

In addition, for more than 25 years, the industry has worked through the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to ensure that consumers—especially parents and caregivers—have the resources, including voluntary ratings, needed to make informed decisions about video games. The effectiveness of these efforts has been praised by the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Related News and Resources

results in Marketplace Innovation.
  • U.S. Consumer Video Game Spending Totaled $56.6 Billion in 2022

    Press Releases /

    Overall total consumer spending on video games in the United States totaled $56.6 billion in 2022 as video game sales stabilize following back-to-back record years in 2020 and 2021, according to new data released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and The NPD Group.

  • 2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry

    ESA Research / Fact Sheets /

    2022 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry highlights how millions of Americans turn to video games for connection, educational enrichment and entertainment.

  • U.S. Consumer Video Game Spending Totaled $60.4 Billion in 2021

    Press Releases /

    Overall total consumer spending on video games in the U.S. totaled $60.4 billion in 2021, an 8 percent increase over 2020, according to new data released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and The NPD Group.

  • 2021 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry

    ESA Research / Fact Sheets /

    This year's 2021 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry confirms that, in the last year during the global pandemic, people from all walks of life reached for video games to find joy, connection and a sense of belonging.

  • 2020 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry

    ESA Research / Fact Sheets /

    ESA's 2020 Essential Facts About the Video Game Industry answers frequently asked questions like who plays video games, why do people play video games and how and when do people play?

  • ESA Leadership Desk: 214 Million Americans Play Video Games

    Perspectives /

    As the 2020 Essential Facts demonstrates, video games have become the leading form of entertainment because they bring us joy, connection and a sense of belonging when we need it most. Their value to society has never been more vital.

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