New research from Nielsen Online reveals that 37% of online US adults own a game console, while 10% plan to purchase a new console in the next 12 months.
Nielsen also found that game console brands were popular online destinations in May. The Nintendo Web brand had the largest unique audience of console brands in May at 2.2 million while Sony Computers Entertainment was the fastest growing, increasing 16% year on year.
Among the current game consoles, Nintendo Wii was the No 1 console owned by online adults, with 14.3%. However, Playstation 2 – despite being an older console – continues to be the top console game owned, with 17.3 percent of online adults in possession of one.
| Percent of Online US Adults Who Own a Video Game Console |
| Type of game console owned |
Summer 2008 Comp % |
Summer 2009 Comp % |
YoY percentage point increase |
| Nintendo Wii |
6.5 |
14.3 |
7.8 |
| Microsoft Xbox 360 |
7.1 |
9.4 |
2.3 |
| Sony Playstation |
3.0 |
5.0 |
2.0 |
| Source: Nielsen @Plan |
Last month, research from the Entertainment Software Association revealed that 68% of American households play computer or video games (see 68% of US households play computer or video games).
Earlier this year, comScore research revealed that the online gaming site category in the US grew 27% year on year to 86 million visitors in December 2008, while the total time spent playing PC-based online games jumped 42% (see Growth in US online gaming).
