1 in 4 Gen Z Brits owns a retro gaming console reveals new studyGameCentralPublished February 18, 2025 12:30pm The N64 was state of the art in 1997 (Wikipedia)Retro gaming is getting unexpectedly popular with younger generations, with 74% of Britons saying they play old school games to relax.Its not going to be long until the entire concept of video games that come on a disc or cartridge is consigned to the history books. Its already an unfamiliar concept to many younger gamers and yet Gen Z (those currently aged 13 to 28) is apparently getting nostalgic for an era theyve barely even known.According to a new survey of 2,000 Britons, 66% have bought retro tech of some kind in the last two years, with 24% of Gen Z now owning a retro games console.Of those polled, 89% of gamers said that retro games give them a break from the internet and 74% agreed that nostalgic games are more relaxing. 77% said they keep retro tech for sentimental value, which suggests that 23% are buying them despite having never owned them when they were new.The report was commissioned by Pringles, who were initially promoting a Retro Console Clinic in London, offering free repairs for retro handheld and home consoles. Although it was only open for two days.According to the survey, 30% of Britons claim theyre considering swapping their smartphones for old school flip phones, while 61% are convinced that cassette tapes are on the verge of a vinyl style comeback. The Retro Console Clinic was a pop-up store for a few days (Pringles)Even relatively more recent technology is coming back into vogue, with DVD players accounting for 20% of retro hardware sales and digital camera another 23% with 55% of Gen Z claiming theyd rather take photos with a digital camera than a smartphone.More TrendingThis has coincided with a general interest in 90s and 00s fashion and music, as the fascination with the 80s gradually migrates into more recent decades.Although there are multiple reasons for the fascination with older tech, much of it is based on nostalgia. The youngest in Gen Z wouldve been born in 2012 the year the ill-fated Wii U was released while the oldest were born in 1997, the year the N64 launched in the UK.Its Generation Alpha and beyond that are going to grow up with little or no concept of physical media (unless they play their relatives newly bought retro consoles) so its going to be interesting to see what they think of all this.Perhaps they will also see the appeal in lower tech device, as 78% of those polled suggested that the other reason they like using retro gadgets is because it means theyre not using their smartphone, which many now seem desperate to get away from at least for a time. Video games have come a long way in the last few decades (Aspyr)Emailgamecentral@metro.co.uk, leave a comment below,follow us on Twitter, andsign-up to our newsletter.To submit Inbox letters and Readers Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use ourSubmit Stuff page here.For more stories like this,check our Gaming page.GameCentralSign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy