A new industry report has revealed that PC gamers spend a staggering 92% of their gaming hours playing older titles—games that were released more than two years ago. This surprising statistic raises major questions about gaming habits, the longevity of certain games, and the challenges new releases face in attracting players.
Breaking Down the Numbers
According to data from Newzoo, the majority of PC gaming time is spent on established games rather than new releases. Here’s how it breaks down:
📌 67% of total playtime goes to games six or more years old.
📌 25% of gaming hours are spent on games two to five years old.
📌 Only 8% of gaming time is dedicated to newly released titles (games less than two years old).
This means that the vast majority of PC players are sticking with proven, well-supported games instead of jumping into the latest releases.
Why Are Gamers Playing Older Titles?
🔹 Live-Service Games Dominate – Games like Counter-Strike 2, League of Legends, Fortnite, and GTA Online offer constant updates, new content, and competitive communities, making them more appealing over time.
🔹 Strong Modding Communities – Games such as Skyrim, Fallout, and Minecraft continue to thrive thanks to mod support, keeping the experience fresh.
🔹 High Replayability & Multiplayer Focus – Competitive titles like Dota 2 and Apex Legends offer endless replayability, keeping players hooked for years.
🔹 Rising Game Prices & Subscription Services – With new AAA games costing $70 or more, many gamers opt to stick with their favorite older titles rather than spending money on every new release.
Top Older Games Still Dominating Playtime
Here are some of the most-played PC games in 2025, according to the study:
🥇 Counter-Strike 2 – 7.1% of total PC playtime
🥈 League of Legends – 6.4%
🥉 Roblox – 6.2%
🎮 Dota 2 – 5.8%
🎮 Fortnite – 5.4%
🎮 Grand Theft Auto V & GTA Online – 4.9%
These games are years—if not a decade—old, yet they continue to outperform most new releases in terms of player engagement.
