ESA Announces Inaugural Interactive Entertainment Impact Award Recipients: Obernolte, Veasey, and AARP

Gaming Staff • June 6, 2024

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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the recipients of the first-ever Interactive Entertainment Impact Awards. Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) and AARP were recognized for their efforts to advance the video game industry in the United States.

ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis presented the awards, expressing gratitude for the awardees' significant contributions to the industry. Representatives Obernolte and Veasey co-chair the Congressional Video Game and Esports Caucus and have worked to advance the understanding of the positive impact of video games on society. AARP has been a partner of ESA for close to a decade, promoting the benefits of play for Americans of all ages and developing video games that are popular among older adults.

The video game industry has grown significantly in the past 30 years, with 190.6 million people playing video games for at least one hour a week in 2024. The industry has also become an economic powerhouse, generating $57.2 billion in consumer spending in 2023 and contributing $66 billion to U.S. GDP.

ESA has served as the voice and advocate of the U.S. video game industry since 1994, promoting policies that maintain the country's position as the world leader in entertainment software development. The association's 30th anniversary highlights the exciting history of this innovative industry.

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