On publication of its White Paper, which analyses the global video games and esports sectors in 24 markets, YouGov said that with the release of new consoles and major titles launching across several different platforms, 2020 was always set to be an important year in gaming. But thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been “a pivotal year”. Where blockbuster films, professional sports, and TV have been subject to disruption and delays, YouGov said that games like The Last of Us Part II and Animal Crossing have “broken sales records”.

YouGov’s new White Paper explores the state of a market that YouGov concludes is “thriving amidst global crisis and uncertainty”.

Among other things, the 24-market study examines gaming against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrival of next-gen consoles, the international esports scene, and game streaming. It also features a “deep dive” into five key markets: Australia, Germany, the UK, the US, and Singapore.

In terms of esports, however, Esports News UK reads the White Paper in a slightly less optimistic way, noting that the report shows that 37% of Brits are familiar with esports, but that engagement with competitions remains low at just 6%.

Esports News UK does, however, note that the 2020 report found that more than four in ten UK gamers say they have been gaming more during the COVID-19 outbreak (43%), while a further four in ten have been gaming about the same (42%) and 8% say they are playing less. To read YouGov’s press release in full and for a link to the White Paper, click here. To read Esports News UK’s analysis in full, click here.