A recent survey by our BroadbandNow Research team reveals significant gender differences in how gamers perceive and attribute performance issues during online gameplay. Our nationwide survey of over 1,000 gamers found that women are markedly less likely than men to blame network lag or latency for their gaming performance issues.
While 30% of male gamers reported that lag is “often” or “very often” a barrier to their success in real-time competitive games, only 17% of female gamers reported the same level of impact. This difference in perception raises important questions about gaming experiences, technical awareness, and how different demographics interact with connectivity challenges.
Key Findings
- Female gamers report fewer lag-related barriers: Only 17% of female gamers report that lag is “often” or “very often” a barrier to their success in competitive games, compared to 30% of male gamers.
- Different performance attribution patterns: Women are more likely to attribute performance issues to their own skill level or game design, while men are significantly more likely to blame external factors like network conditions.
- Device and connectivity awareness gap: Male gamers demonstrate higher self-reported awareness of their connection speed and technical specifications, which may contribute to their greater likelihood of identifying lag as the source of performance issues.
- Mobile gaming gender differences: Female gamers are significantly more likely to play mobile phone games (76% vs. 64% of male gamers), yet report less sensitivity to latency issues on these devices.
- 5G adoption impact: Gamers who always use 5G-capable phones when playing competitive mobile games report significantly fewer latency issues, providing an opportunity for both improved performance and marketing to performance-conscious gamers.
Implications for the Industry
These findings have significant implications for game developers, internet service providers, and hardware manufacturers:
- Game Design Considerations: Developers might consider how performance feedback is communicated to players of different genders, acknowledging that technical explanations for performance issues may resonate differently.
- Marketing Opportunities: ISPs promoting gaming-optimized connections may need different messaging approaches when targeting female versus male gamers, emphasizing different value propositions.
- Hardware Positioning: Mobile device manufacturers highlighting 5G connectivity for gaming should consider how the benefits are framed for different audience segments.
- Education Gap: There may be opportunities to increase technical literacy around connectivity issues for segments of the gaming population who are less likely to identify network-related performance barriers.
Gender, Performance, and Power In Gaming
This research demonstrates that perceptions of online gaming performance vary significantly by gender, with female gamers reporting lag as a barrier to success at nearly half the rate of their male counterparts.
These findings connect to documented broader patterns in gaming culture:
Technical Attribution & Socialized Responses: Our results align with research showing women tend to internalize gaming challenges while men externalize them. Studies have found male players typically game for competitive reasons while female players often prioritize social and relational aspects, potentially explaining different responses to technical issues.
Competitive vs. Social Engagement: Despite women now representing 46% of all US gamers in 2023, significant differences remain in how genders engage with gaming. Men typically frame gaming more competitively with greater focus on performance metrics, potentially increasing sensitivity to technical barriers affecting outcomes.
Industry Representation Gap: With only 23% of game developers being women, the gaming industry itself reflects a technical confidence divide that mirrors our findings about lag attribution. Games and gaming ecosystems continue to be designed primarily by men, potentially creating environments where technical explanations are more accessible to male players.
For the telecommunications industry, these insights reveal an opportunity to create more inclusive approaches when marketing gaming-focused internet services. Understanding that different players prioritize different aspects of the gaming experience—and attribute performance issues differently—can help providers develop messaging that resonates with diverse audiences while educating all gamers about the relationship between connection quality and performance.
Demographics and Methodology
Our survey collected responses from 1,025 active gamers across the United States, with respondents split between 43% female and 57% male participants. The age distribution was balanced across categories, with the largest segment (34%) in the 30-44 age range. Respondents were qualified as “active gamers” if they reported playing video games at least once per week.
Survey data was collected during Q4 2024 through an online panel. Respondents answered questions about their gaming habits, performance perceptions, internet connectivity specifications, and how they attribute success or failure during gameplay.
Methodology Note: Survey conducted online in Q4 2024 with 1,025 US-based active gamers. Statistical significance established at 95% confidence level with margin of error +/- 3.1%.
