Majority of US Gamers Call for Increased Action Against Harassment in Games

According to a recent study, a significant majority of US gamers believe the gaming industry must take more decisive action to combat harassment in multiplayer games. The latest Digital Media Trends report from Deloitte examines how people engage with various forms of entertainment, with a dedicated section focused on the persistent issues of toxicity and bullying among gamers. The report is based on a survey of 3,517 US consumers, of which 61% identified as gamers. Among these gamers, 57% of women and 53% of men agreed that game publishers should do more to address harassment within their games. Furthermore, 48% of women and 44% of men felt that there is excessive bullying or harassment, while 44% of women and 41% of men stated they are more likely to play a multiplayer game if they know moderation is in place to limit bad behavior. Notably, 30% of male gamers believe bullying can be a normal part of the gaming experience, in contrast to 19% of female gamers. Across all respondents, playing video games was a common activity, with 62% of men and 60% of women reporting they play games, averaging nine hours of gameplay per week. The survey also highlighted the impact of the pandemic on the gaming industry's growth, with 25% of female gamers and 16% of male gamers starting to play within the last four years. Overall, one in five US gamers began playing video games after the pandemic started. Additionally, the survey explored gaming preferences, with 69% of women favoring simple mobile games, compared to 49% of men. Around half of the respondents, 57% of men and 51% of women, enjoy solo adventures in immersive, story-driven worlds, while opinions were more divided regarding live service games, with 47% of men and 29% of women expressing a preference for these titles.