Episode
The ESA's Essential Facts: Free Player Data Most Companies Pay For
- Podcast
- Deconstructor of Fun
- Published
- Jun 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3333
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Two thirds of Americans now play video games every week. That is more than 212 million people, the average player is 37, and among Boomers, more women play than men. These numbers come from the ESA's 2026 Essential Facts report, the kind of audience and demographic data most companies pay a lot of money for, free to anyone. Jen Donahoe sits down with Stanley Pierre-Louis, President and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the group that has represented the U.S. video game industry since 1994. He is a media and IP lawyer who leads the organization that defends games in Washington, runs the ESRB rating system, and makes the industry's case to lawmakers and parents. In this episode: Why "gamer" means something different than it used to The older and female players reshaping the audience What a $20 monthly median spend says about gaming's value How the ESA fights online safety and loot box legislation Inside iicon, the ESA's new event connecting games to the wider economy How to use this free data in your next project, especially for marketers Learn more about the ESA and find the report at The ESA website https://www.theesa.com/