Report: Console ownership rises to 60% of households in 2009

A new survey has revealed a rise in console ownership in US households over the last three years, despite game revenues being down in 2009.

According to consulting firm Deloitte's State of the Media Democracy Survey, Fourth Edition, reported on by Gamasutra, nearly 60 per cent of households own a games console in 2009, up from 44 per cent three years ago.

The survey attributes the surge primarily to two age groups of gamers it dubs the Generation X-ers (ages 27-43) and the Baby Boomers (ages 44-62). Nearly 70 percent of the former and 44 per cent of the latter now own a games console, it revealed, up from 53 per cent and 31 per cent in 2006.

And over the last six months, 54 per cent of Generation X-ers and 31 per cent of Baby Boomers were found to have played a newly released game - up from 37 per cent and 12 per cent respectively in 2008.

Rises in console usage were also seen in other age groups, including ages 63-75, which rose to 8 per cent in 2009, up from 3 per cent the year prior.

Deloitte attributed the increase to the tough economy which, it said, has forced more people to find lower-cost entertainment within their own homes.

"The last year has posed serious financial challenges for American families and their media consumption habits have changed as a result," said Phil Asmundson, Deloitte's vice chairman and technology, media & telecommunications leader.

"The dramatically increased appeal of the gaming console is noteworthy on two levels. It is further proof of the renewed focus on the television as the home entertainment hub, and it also raises the possibility of the console becoming a significant content distribution channel into the home."