The average gamer is sitting on 7 unused consoles
Key Points
- A study by Censuswide reveals that the average gamer owns almost seven unused consoles that could be sold to upgrade their current setup.
- The study, cited by broadband provider Virgin Media O2, found that the average number of unused consoles in a household was 6.6.
- O2 estimates that these devices could be resold for £293, based on the average price of a console sold through its recycling programme.
- With the AI boom driving hardware prices sky-high and GTA VI set to release soon, gamers may be forced to part with older consoles to fund their upgrades.
New research reveals that the average gamer owns almost seven unused consoles that could be sold to upgrade their current setup.
This is according to a survey conducted by Censuswide for UK broadband provider Virgin Media O2, which examined the hardware owned by gamers in the context of the upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Of 1,000 gamers surveyed, 847 gamers said they had at least one unused console in their household. Those gamers, on average, had 7.8 unused consoles in their home, which equates to an average of 6.6 (rounded up to 7) across the entire population of surveyed gamers.
It’s important to note that while seven consoles may sound like a lot, the survey did not ask whether these consoles were working, meaning many gamers may be holding onto old broken devices rather than throwing them away or selling them for parts.
O2 calculated that if they sold their unused consoles, the average gamer could make an estimated £293. This price is calculated using the average price of a console sold to the company through its hardware recycling programme.
This programme allows anyone, not just O2 customer, to sell their old hardware to the operator. The company said that people who sell their consoles through its programme receive the following, on average:
- £160 for a PlayStation 5
- £92 for a Nintendo Switch OLED
- £50 for an Xbox One X
- £44 for a Nintendo Switch Lite
- £33.33 for a PlayStation 4
- £30 for an Xbox One S
Considering the fact that nearly half of gamers surveyed want to upgrade to a newer or more powerful gaming system, reselling some of their old consoles may be an appropriate option if they are looking for a better rig or device on which to play Grand Theft Auto VI.
The AI boom is driving memory and storage prices sky-high, resulting in a shortage of gaming hardware that is making the hobby more expensive than ever.
Consoles are seeing price hikes across the board as a result, which means those sitting on older consoles are more likely to sell their old devices to fund the future upgrades they need.
