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Study Finds Video Games Popular Way To Socialise

New research has revealed that 7 in 10 professionals (69%) believe that video games would provide the best way to break the ice with colleagues before returning to the office full-time, with 6 in 10 (61%) revealing they played games with friends, family and workmates to stay connected through lockdown.

The findings come from a study of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by Perspectus Global on behalf of Xbox UK during April 2021, as part of a campaign to highlight the ease with which anyone can connect with friends, family and colleagues over a game on your laptop.

Leading psychologist Emma Kenny highlights that games can help bridge the gap for people’s social interactions as lockdown restrictions begin to ease. Kenny said, “The last 12 months have fundamentally changed how people communicatewith technology providing an essential lifeline to family and friends. With data showing that 91% of Brits plan to continue supplementing in-person conversations with digital interactions for the foreseeable future, we want to show how gaming can provide that vital connection.”

76% of survey respondents adding that online gaming is a good way to bond and make connections with people they can’t see face to face. Xbox highlight some great Game Pass games that are good for connection: Among Us, Minecraft Dungeons, Golf With Your Friends, and Human: Fall Flat.

On AskAboutGames we've also worked with the Family Video Game Database to create some useful lists of games for connection with people who can't be in the same place:

Kenny said that “Games can serve many purposes, especially in the workplace: if you’re looking to bond with a new co-worker you’re yet to meet, jumping into Among Us offers an easy icebreaker; a battle within Minecraft Dungeons can aid teamwork; you can even host meetings whilst getting a round in in Golf With Your Friends.”

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Andrew Robertson
Andy Robertson is the editor of AskAboutGames and has written for national press and broadcast about video games and families for over 15 years. He has just published the Taming Gaming book with its Family Video Game Database.