With 230,000 followers, Hardcore Gamer_Old Man Yang is a far cry from the stereotype of a technologically inept grandparent. As a digitally active octogenarian, Yang Binglin streams his gameplays including Sniper and The Witcher on Bilibili, a platform dominated by Gen Zers. Over extended lockdowns, more Chinese Older Adults have picked up the gaming controller as a way to maintain social connections, and especially to bond with their grandchildren. “They get social satisfaction from gaming that’s similar to real-life interactions. It reduces their feelings of loneliness,” says Song Delong, who owns a toy shop for Older Adults in Beijing.

There are between 45 and 57 million older gamers in China – nearly twice as many as in mid-2020 – and this is catching the eye of the Chinese anime, comic, and games market. As the number of Older Adult gamers grows, it demonstrates how Older Adults have been an underserved demographic in the global gaming industry. And with loneliness prevalent among older generations, Older Adults are turning to tech as a way to feel less alone. In this space, older players want to see gaming studios adapt their product offerings to fulfil the needs of this overlooked group. Japan’s first pro esports team of over-60s is a good example of how companies and governments alike can make the move towards more inclusive entertainment.