As tech companies stayed afloat amidst the pandemic, many were thankful for the distraction provided by video games during the stressful mandatory lockdowns. In Ireland, the country’s gaming industry experienced a phenomenal boom since Irish adults and young people alike warmed to video games as their stay-at-home go-to-entertainment.

Video game development companies in Northern Ireland are benefiting greatly from the resulting boom even after Brexit. The boost in sales enabled them to meet the UK government’s eligibility criteria for Video Games Tax Relief.

The UK strongly supports the video games industry as the country ranks second to Germany, for having the largest video games market on a global scale. Based on the data released by UK’s OfCom, around 62% of the nation’s adult population played video games, to which Northern Ireland players were in the thick of the gaming boom in 2020.

According to the Irish Post, data gathered from Pure Telecom showed that 36% of Ireland’s adult population played video games online.

Factors that Sparked the Popularity of Video Gaming in Ireland

Even before the pandemic, esports is already a passion among Irish locals. In Laois County, 33% of residents are quite involved in esports tournaments either as competitors or as audience members. Esports tournaments also enjoy great followings in Dublin and Limerick.

Yet the significant factors that drove growth to Ireland’s video game industry is not only the passion for esports. At the height of the health crisis in 2020, majority of Ireland’s households found the tech-oriented entertainment as the most satisfying form of distraction. The video games provided adults relief from stress and at the same time presented opportunities to bond with younger family members.

The Irish Post was able to gather data indicating that 71% of parents who responded to their surveys, mentioned that playing video games enabled them and their children to experience a less stressful environment. Moreover, fifty-nine percent of the survey respondents said their children were mostly engaged in educational video games.

Irish parents also discovered video board games to play both offline and online The virtual versions also posed as another form of social activity. Amidst the health crisis that prevented them from interacting with friends and neighbors, online multiplayer versions enabled them to make new friends with people from different places across the globe.

According to the Irish Post, their research data showed that while esports gamers spend an average of six hours per week behind their gamin consoles, other video game players in Ireland have been spending as much as 10 hours each week, That being the case, the increased appetite for video gaming in Ireland rubbed off on related businesses particularly in the gaming chairs market.

Gaming Chairs in Ireland also Gained Popularity

The need for gaming chairs became pronounced after adult Irish players realized that the best way to fully enjoy the hours spent video gaming is to take on a sitting position that supports proper posture. Apparently, adult gamers experienced back, neck, arms and leg strains sitting for prolonged hours on regular office or dining chairs.

It became clear that all the health benefits touted as reasons for using gaming chairs are not just hyped-up selling points. In fact even in work places, gaming chairs have become the preferred sitting provisions. The ergonomic support they provide makes a huge difference for people who practically have to sit long hours in front of computers.

Still, not all gaming chairs in the market offer the same levels of comfort and durability. It’s always best to checkout gaming chair brands backed by reliable consumer and expert reviews before purchasing one. A popular gaming chairs information resource for Irish  consumers