PlayStation Australia has unvield research that shows plenty of Australians are using video games to make and maintain important connections.

Unlucky in love? Well maybe you should forget all that agonising swiping and pick up a video game controller instead. At least, that could well be a viable solution according to new research released today by PlayStation Australia.

The research, conducted by Lonergan Research, reveals that nearly 1 in 10 Australians surveyed for the study have formed a romantic partnership or bonded with their partner through online gaming. That equates to a massive 8% finding their ‘player 2’.

It also means you don’t have to think about performing criminal checks on prospective baes.

Further stats in the video games research show that over half (52%) of Australian gamers have used online gaming to stay connected to people they haven’t been able to see over the last 18-months, while 51% of Aussies agree that online gaming has had a positive effect on their social life.

Especially important as much of the country is still facing lockdowns, one in four gamers are using online gaming as their preferred form of communication to stay connected with friends and family over any other communications platforms. Sure beats watching your parents struggle to keep themselves in frame during your weekly Facetime call.

“Over the last two years, we have seen Australians connect and reconnect with gaming like never before as people experience the true value of what modern gaming can offer,” says Pat Lagana, Director of Marketing at Sony Interactive Australia. “Online gaming through PlayStation Plus, has enabled families to come together, for mature audiences to learn new tricks, and most importantly, it has been a consistent and captivating way to escape the world and keep people feeling connected to their families and friends.

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“To enable more people to experience connecting with loved ones in new ways through online gaming, we are delighted to announce our first PlayStation Plus Connections Weekend – offering Australians the chance to experience for free, the connectivity and fun [or joy] that online gaming brings on PlayStation,” he concluded.

The free access to online multiplayer begins Saturday, October 2 at 12:01 AM AEST and runs through to Monday, October 4 at 11:59 PM AEST.

Check out some of the titles coming to PlayStation Plus in October

All you need to do in order to take advantage of the neat offer is jump onto your PlayStation console during that period, pick out your favourite multiplayer game and the rest should take care of itself.

It’s worth noting that you will need a PlayStation account, but no membership commitment will be required during the period. Win.

If multiplayer isn’t your thing, here’s a handy list of some big titles coming your way in October 2021.

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