If you’re looking for love, online gaming boosts romantic relationships, new study finds

Computer games can boost romantic relationships, a new survey claims.

Findings from the survey commissioned by EE ahead of Valentine’s Day suggest that 58 per cent of Londoners believe that online gaming boosts relationships with a love interest or partner.

While 28 percent of couples now regularly play together at least once a week, the survey found.

More than a fifth of 16- to 24-year-olds are now more likely to play online on a date night than go out to dinner, go to the movies or spend an evening watching a movie, the survey found.

The findings also suggest that 52 per cent of Londoners find that online gaming defuses tensions or arguments and helps keep relationships peaceful.

The survey found that 44 percent of people consider “an interest in online gaming” to be an attractive romantic quality.

One in 10 consider it the number one most important compatibility trait in a potential mate, it found.

Puzzles and party games are the number one choice for couples to play together, closely followed by sports and multiplayer racing games, according to the survey.

EE also sees online gaming as a key driver for usage “spikes” on its network in the last 12 months, with more than half of all people in the capital (56 per cent) saying they now spend more time playing online with friends since the start of the pandemic.

Alistair Wilson, Director of Devices and Partnerships at EE, said: “It’s clear that online gaming is not only growing rapidly in popularity, but also playing an even bigger role in our relationships, with couples now going head-to-head with each other. face more than ever.’

In a push for gamers, EE is offering Xbox Game Pass Ultimate as an inclusive extra with select mobile plans when customers order the latest Samsung Galaxy S23 series on its network.