155m people play games in US, according to ESA

More than 155m people play games in the United States, a new report from the Entertainment Software Association claims.

Th ESA has this and several other interesting figures to skim in its 2015 Essential Facts report, which was put together by surveying the gaming habits and attitudes of 4,000 American households.

For instance: 80 per cent of US households own a device that plays games and 51 per cent have a dedicated console. 42 per cent of the 155m US gamers played 3 or more hours per week as well.

Women made up 44 per cent of the gamer total, with the organization noting that women age 18 or older represent a third of those who play games.

"Video games are ingrained in our culture," ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher said.

"Driven by some of the most innovative minds in the tech sector, our industry’s unprecedented leaps in software and hardware engages and inspires our diverse global audience. Our artists and creators continue to push the entertainment envelope, ensuring that our industry will maintain its upward trajectory for years to come."

The report also pointed to the digital market’s growth over the last five years. Digital grabbed 29 percent of the share from physical media in 2010, and has risen steadily up to a majority 52 per cent in 2015.