Leveling up the Holidays: Over Half of Canadian Kids Asking for Video Games This Season
New survey reveals 52% of kids are asking for gaming gifts, with consoles, in-game currency and accessories leading demand.
TORONTO, ON, Dec. 8, 2025 – Video games are shaping up to be a popular gift across Canada this holiday season, with 52% of children (age 10-17) planning to ask for video game-related gifts.
New research from the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) reveals that parents are ready to invest in family fun, with those buying gaming gifts planning to spend an average of $763.20
The most requested gifts include:
- Video game consoles (46%)
- In-game currency (42%)
- Video game accessories (39%)
“Given the popularity of video games in Canada, it’s not surprising that they have become a central part of our holiday traditions,” said ESAC CEO Paul Fogolin “Parents aren’t just buying games for their kids, they’re buying them to play together. As families unwrap new consoles and games, we want to empower them to use parental controls so that the focus remains on fun, safety and shared experiences.”
The survey reinforces the findings from the recent Power of Play surveys, that connection is a top motivator for both kids and parents. The main reason children gave for wanting video games was ‘I like to play with others’ (35%), while 24% of parents said they plan to buy video games specifically because ‘we play games together.
Prioritizing Safe Play
As video games continue to be a staple of family entertainment, trust and safety are top of mind for parents and guardians. 79% of parents surveyed stated that parental controls are important to them.
Fortunately, the industry provides robust tools to meet this demand. Parental controls are available on all devices, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. These offer parents the ability to set preferences appropriate for their household, such as age restrictions, spending limits, and playtime management.
The survey found that knowledge of parental controls is generally good, although there is room for greater awareness and support in using them effectively.
- 72% of parents are aware of the available parental controls
- 74% of those who are aware actively use them
Trust and Safety Resources
To support families in better understanding the parental controls that are available to them, ESAC has published a Family Safety Guide, which will help parents approach the holiday season confidently.
In addition, ESAC has a well-established Trust and Safety Hub, which is an online resource that provides players, parents, and caregivers with essential information on age ratings, detailed guides on setting up parental controls, and other easy-to-use tools to ensure games remain fun and appropriate for the whole family.
About the Survey
The survey was conducted by Burson on behalf of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada between November 13 and 18. It included 1,500 Canadians, consisting of 1,000 adults (aged 18-65) and 500 children (aged 10-17). The sample was drawn from Leger’s online panel and weighted by age, gender, and region to reflect Canada’s population distribution according to 2021 Census data. An associated margin of error for a probability-based sample of this size would be ±3%, 19 times out of 20.
About the Entertainment Software Association of Canada
ESAC is the national voice of the video game industry in Canada. We work for our members – Codename Entertainment, Behaviour Interactive, Glu, EA, Epic Games, Eidos Montreal, Gameloft, Ubisoft, Kabam, Ludia, Microsoft, Nintendo, NetEase Games, Other Ocean Interactive, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Relic Entertainment, Roblox, Solutions 2 Go, WB Games, Take-Two Interactive, and Tencent – to ensure legal, regulatory and public affairs environment are favourable to long-term business development. For more information, visit theESA.ca.
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Media Contact:
Robert Sauer
