If we talk about the world of games, it is indisputable that PcComponentes is a reference in this regard as one of the favorite platforms for gamers in terms of equipping the necessary systems/components to practice a wide range of activities related to the gaming ecosystem, video game. And yes, I’m talking about a set of activities because For some time now, the world of gaming has consisted of much more than just gamingas we will see below.

As its name suggests, III Radiography of games in Spainthis is the third year in which this study has been carried out, which makes it possible to make comparisons with previous data and to measure the development over time, while we see that the depth of the gaming world here, and especially among the youngest, points to a future in which this already multi-million dollar industry will only continue to grow more than remarkably.

The first notable point of the study mentions exactly what was hinted at at the beginning of this news, that the growth is not limited to the traditional model of video game consumption, that is, the act of playing itself. The research also quantified significant growth in its passive consumption as audiovisual entertainment, something in which streaming platforms have played and continue to play a key role, particularly Twitch. So, 25% of Spanish video game fans prefer watching broadcast games to consuming other types of content, such as movies and series on streaming platforms. Growth that adds 8 points compared to 2022 in the case of Generation Z, which reaches one in three.

Even more striking, even in relation to content consumption, is another piece of information we found in the PcComponentes study, which is that almost one in five players would rather watch other players’ games than play thema percentage that rises to 20% for Gen Z fans. It may seem surprising at first, but there are many reasons (from the very high level of some streamers to challenges and group games that we can find on streaming platforms) that sometimes make this type of content more fun and attractive than gaming.

In this regard, speedruns come into play, for example games in which the goal is to finish the game in the shortest possible time (if you are not familiar with this type of game, I recommend you look at this website, because it will surely surprise you), or events organized by various streamersmore or less popular, and which usually attract a large number of fans who want to enjoy not only the game, but also the reactions of the participants of these group games.

Of course, this leads us to another growing trend that you’ve probably already envisioned, and that’s none other than getting on the other side of the camera and becoming a content creator in the gaming world. In this sense, generation Z stands out again, in which more than a substantial 34% see this activity as a career opportunitywhich is a growth that of course corresponds to the fact that it is also the generation that consumes this type of content more often.

Of course, another very interesting fact we gleaned from the PcComponentes report is that being a content creator is not a video game-related professional opportunity that attracts more Gen Z gamers. And what comes first? Well, one major one, but one we haven’t mentioned yet: video game creation and distribution. And it is nothing less than 39% confirm that they would like to develop their professional career in the video game industry. Programmers, designers, composers… this multi-million dollar industry offers many career opportunities and is becoming more and more popular among the youngest, which perfectly matches their passion for the sector.

If we break down the mentioned interest into motivations, which is something very interesting to understand their way of thinking, we will see that being part of the development of a great video game and entertaining millions of people with the content created are the two main reasons for their professional expectations in the gaming sector among Gen Z. As far as o references, the two most cited names are Ibai Llanos (48%) and El Rubius (35.7%) as public figures who contributed the most to the professional rise of games.

Also, and contrary to another widespread belief, this III radiography of games in Spain shows us that the pattern of active consumption of games is much milder than assumed. In this regard, we find it 47% of gamers report that they spend one to two hours a day playing, which is the preferred option compared to 26% of people who play no more than one hour a day and 19% who usually spend two to three hours a day. Thus, reasonably casual consumption is undoubtedly the most common pattern among gamers.

Focusing more on the activities of PcComponentes, this report also shows us some interesting data regarding the devices used by Spanish gamers to play. 58% of respondents say they use a PC, 54% game consoles and 27% smartphones and tablets (remember they were asked which device they use, not which one is their main one). The main reason why PCs still dominate here is that they offer high upgradeability, something that 61% of respondents say they implement every two years at most, while 27% say they do it annually. Here we see a spectacular growth compared to last year’s figures, when the numbers were 39% and 11%.

When it comes to specific components, the PcComponentes study aims to motherboards and graphics cards (44%) are the ones that tend to be refreshed more often by users.

“Video games are not a static recreation, but a phenomenon of constant growth and development, which strives to become entertainment for an ever-increasing number of people”target Alicia Vicente, Brand & Communications Manager at PcComponentes. “We are experiencing a greater variety of entertainment options through gaming that go beyond the game itself due to increased interest in streaming and related audiovisual content.”