Gender gap identified in university student video game consumption

A study conducted by the Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, the University of Cádiz, the Complutense University of Madrid, and the University of Algarve reveals a significant gender gap in video game consumption habits among university students of Generation Z.

The research highlights that 80.9% of female students play exclusively free-to-play video games, compared to only 28.5% of male students. This 52.4 percentage point difference indicates that female players concentrate heavily on titles that do not require an initial financial outlay, whereas male players utilize a wider variety of purchase models, including premium releases, subscriptions, and downloadable content.

Differences were also noted in gameplay duration and engagement. While 16% of men report playing for more than four hours per session, only 0.9% of women report the same. Additionally, 36.9% of women limit their gaming sessions to a maximum of 30 minutes. The study also indicates a lower level of female engagement with following e-sports competitions.