What does gaming really cost?

Guide for gamers, parents and kids to help you play to the limit without breaking your budget.

Christmas is on the horizon, and if you’re a gamer - or your kids or grandkids are - then the latest titles and gaming tech will be high on your festive shopping list.

Over the last 12 months the UK’s 38 million gamers spent £951 million on consoles such as the PS5 and nearly £5 billion on games¹ including Final Fantasy VII and EA Sports FC24.

But paying for the physical game, or a digital download, is just the start, as there can be options within games for additional spending –for upgrades and special features as you play.

In this simple guide, we explain the costs, and how to set limits so you get all the fun without a financial headache.

What do you play video games on?

Most UK gamers play on a console², such as the Sony PlayStation 5, with prices starting from around £375, and Microsoft’s XBox, which costs from £249.

Gamers can also spend hundreds of pounds on accessories, such as headsets, controllers and gaming chairs. And don’t forget, you’ll need a TV to plug the console into as well.

Handheld consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, which costs from £199, are also popular with younger gamers.

Around 10% of us play on laptops, and slightly fewer on desktop computers. There are also high-performance devices designed specifically for gaming with faster processors for smoother gameplay available, with prices for a gaming laptop range from around £500 to more than £1,500.

Around a third of us play games on our phones, which can range from simple free puzzles to handheld versions of console and PC titles.

What do games cost?

Games can range from being free to download, to up to £99 but on average, gamers spend £32 a month³. Modern video games can be huge immersive experiences, with lavish scenes and extensive dialogue, and can cost more to make than a Hollywood blockbuster. For example Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 game had a reported budget of £230 million, and sells for £58.99.

Games for a desktop computer or laptop  typically cost between £20 and £60.

You can usually buy a physical copy of the game on a disk, or download a digital copy.

Mobile games are usually available via the app store on your phone.

Can I pay a monthly subscription to access games instead of buying them?

We are all used to streaming films, TV and music, and video games are no different.

An XBox Game Pass subscription costs from £6.99 to £14.99 a month, and PlayStation Plus is between £6.99 and £13.49 a month. Both give access to games online, but the more expensive options have a more extensive library of titles and access to the latest releases.

You can also buy prepaid subscription gift cards which can be great idea as a present.

How can I avoid hidden charges?

Watch out for in-game purchases. A console racing simulator may let you pay to access faster cars, or a football game could have better players available. Some games let you earn credits, by rewarding high scores for example, but others will cost real money to download.

Many mobile game apps are free initially, but you may have to pay to unlock levels as you progress.

Some players are happy to pay to enhance their experience, but it can be easy to spend more than you realise – when they are engrossed in a phone game they may not understand that they are being charged as they progress.

Gaming platforms and mobile app stores let you set limits, or turn off in-game or in-app purchases. Check with your own provider and make sure you or your children can’t spend more than you can afford.

Make sure you understand how to use family or parental settings on consoles, computers and phones that your children use.

As well as payment limits, these let you set time limits, and make sure they are playing age-appropriate games.

Here are some top tips from author and gaming expert Andy Robertson, to help you avoid hidden costs.

• Ensure that spending limits are set up on consoles, that way you will never go above your set limit.
• Set up child accounts that require a PIN to spend money on in-game purchases.
• Use resources like the Family Gaming Database to source games that don’t have additional spending options.
• Oversee your child’s gaming – and join in with them to understand the platforms they’re interacting with and whether purchases are good value.
• Have open conversations about spending in-game, as this can also be a valuable way of understanding the value of real-world currency. 
• Before you wrap – set up the above controls and be ready to monitor and engage with your children.

Are there any other costs to worry about?

Most young people play video games with friends online, including more than 80% of 16 to 24-year-olds³

That can translate into a big broadband bill, with Microsoft estimating the average game uses 100MB of data per hour⁴. Someone playing several hours a day could use up to 50GB of data a month.

Make sure your broadband or mobile data plan covers your gaming needs, and use family or parental settings to make sure your children don’t use a month’s worth of data in a few gaming sessions with their pals.

Online gaming can leave children open to more than just financial risks - click here for tips from the web safety experts at Internet Matters

 

1. https://www.statista.com/topics/1763/gaming-in-the-united-kingdom/#topicOverview
2. https://www.uswitch.com/broadband/studies/online-gaming-statistics/
3. Censuswide conducted a survey of 2,000 gamers for TSB in November, 2024
4. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/learning-center/how-much-data-does-gaming-use?form=MA13I2