Beyond Streaming: How Games Are Changing How We Spend Our Evenings
By Muhammad Arslan Saleem December 22, 2025 06:35
A growing portion of adults in the UK are choosing to spend their leisure time in front of a screen, enjoying some form of interactive entertainment. According to data from Uswitch, there are just over ten million online gamers in the UK – and the figure is rising. But even this figure doesn’t account for the millions of people who choose to play their games offline.
So, what’s behind this trend, and what are its implications?
From passive watching to active playing
Streaming a film or a television series is a relatively passive activity. It’s easy to switch off while you do it – unless the plot is particularly tricky to follow. Interactive games offer a very different experience, and part of the reason that gaming is booming is that many adults are turning away from more traditional forms of media.
Social connection and community in modern gaming
Modern games are often about more than just the core mechanics. There are often additional features bolted on, which are designed to promote interaction between players, even in games where this interaction is absent from the game itself.
Gaming can thus provide a social outlet, and facilitate the formation of like-minded online communities. This is just one of several documented psychological benefits. It’s worth also noting that online games can often take the place of real-world ones, when the latter become impractical. Just as many people used to play bingo with friends, today they might jump into an online shared game instead.
Diversified formats: mobile, console, VR, casual gaming
The modern market for video games is hugely diverse and varied. There’s a console or other device available to suit players of every taste and budget. In fact, the chances are good that you already own one. The aforementioned Uswitch report indicates that the mobile phone is the most popular format, with more than a third of respondents listing it as their main access point.
The choice of systems is reflected in the varying depth of experiences available. Some might last for just a few hours, others might last for a matter of minutes. Thus, however much time you have in the evening, there’s often an experience that will fill it.
The implications for entertainment habits and venues
The rise of gaming has had big implications for the wider entertainment industry. Many real-world venues have sought to cash in with gaming-adjacent activities and pastimes. Gaming is also shaping the way that we spend our social time – for example, many might now prefer to spend an evening playing party games at a friend’s house, rather than heading to the local pub. The economic implications of this shift could be considerable.
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