Video gaming and young men, October 2026

Polling of UK men aged 18 to 30 on gaming, money and connection. The tables cover how easy they would find it to get a job that pays the bills, afford a home or cover a £500 emergency, and how optimistic they feel about the economy, their finances, their careers and opportunities for young people. They also cover gaming habits: how often and how long they play online and alone, platforms, the games they play, how they buy games and plans for GTA 6. Further tables ask whether they talk to friends and strangers while gaming, what those conversations cover, and whether they feel part of an online community. The rest cover whether they see themselves as gamers and how often they talk to neighbours and others in their local area. Crossbreaks are by region, 2024 general election vote and current voting intention.