Hypotheses
This research, therefore, seeks to establish the effects of COVID-19 on spending
made within FIFA, now known as EA Sports FC. These hypotheses are derived from the
identification of the shift in gamers' behavior and their economic status caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic. These hypotheses will help to investigate the core aspects of the
study systematically:
Hypothesis 1: The usage of FIFA in the COVID-19 period has increased the
number of gaming session incidences and session length.
Rationale: Due to ongoing pandemic control measures such as lockdowns and
social distancing, people had leisure time but limited entertainment choices, resulting in
increased gaming on games such as FIFA.
Hypothesis 2: FIFA has witnessed a considerable increase in in-game spending during
COVID–19 compared to the pre–COVID–19 period.
Rationale: As mentioned before, the novel coronavirus led to confinement within the
home, increasing the likelihood of spending more money to buy in-game assets that
improve the gaming experience.
Hypothesis 3: Male gamers are more likely to indulge in more spending in games
through the use of money for performance-enhancing products in games as compared to
female gamers during the periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rationale: Prior empirical findings indicate that male gamers are more aggressive and
are likely to be possession-inclined toward items that enhance their performance and rank
in games.
Hypothesis 4: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, female gamers tend to spend more
money on aesthetic and customization items.
Rationale: Female players are willing to spend more on furnishing items that enable
satisfaction with a personal touch and socialization in games.
Hypothesis 5: Players who experienced financial difficulties during the pandemic will
exhibit a dual pattern in in-game spending: some will cut down on their expenditures
because of financial restraints, while others will spend more to relieve stress or for
entertainment.
Rationale: Ordinarily, difficult economic times often result in contraction of expendable
cash; however, the effects of the pandemic might make some players self-medicate by
playing games and thus spend more on virtual items.
These hypotheses are meant to create an analytical framework for analyzing the
economic and psychological influence of the COVID-19 outbreak on FIFA gaming
behaviour and expenditures, including gender differences.
