The world of video gaming has evolved from a single player experience to a social occasion where players can meet to play games together and watch others play online. In January 2020, a combined 1.2 million hours of live video game streams were watched across the world, a figure which rose to 6.8 million hours in April 2020. This significant rise can be attributed to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which forced many people to stay indoors and turn to gaming as a form of entertainment.
Increase in hours of video game live streams watched on streaming platforms due to COVID-19 worldwide from January to April 2020
(in billions)
Characteristic
Number of hours in billions
April 2020
6.8
March 2020
3.9
February 2020
1.2
January 2020
1.2
012345678
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Strive. (May 27, 2020). Increase in hours of video game live streams watched on streaming platforms due to COVID-19 worldwide from January to April 2020 (in billions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 02, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125472/video-game-stream-hours-watched-monthly/
Strive. "Increase in hours of video game live streams watched on streaming platforms due to COVID-19 worldwide from January to April 2020 (in billions)." Chart. May 27, 2020. Statista. Accessed June 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125472/video-game-stream-hours-watched-monthly/
Strive. (2020). Increase in hours of video game live streams watched on streaming platforms due to COVID-19 worldwide from January to April 2020 (in billions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 02, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125472/video-game-stream-hours-watched-monthly/
Strive. "Increase in Hours of Video Game Live Streams Watched on Streaming Platforms Due to Covid-19 Worldwide from January to April 2020 (in Billions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 27 May 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125472/video-game-stream-hours-watched-monthly/
Strive, Increase in hours of video game live streams watched on streaming platforms due to COVID-19 worldwide from January to April 2020 (in billions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125472/video-game-stream-hours-watched-monthly/ (last visited June 02, 2025)
Increase in hours of video game live streams watched on streaming platforms due to COVID-19 worldwide from January to April 2020 (in billions) [Graph], Strive, May 27, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125472/video-game-stream-hours-watched-monthly/
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