As gamers get stuck into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, research suggests the franchise can cause more than virtual destruction.
Compare the Market research found that Call of Duty was the game most associated with accidental household damage, with 30% of respondents who experienced gaming-related damage saying they were playing the series when it happened.
Fortnite ranked second at 24%, followed by Super Mario Kart at 23% and FIFA or EA Sports FC at 22%.
Across all gaming-related household incidents included in the research, respondents reported spending an average of almost $170 to repair or replace damaged items.
Gaming-related household damage at a glance
- 30% of respondents who experienced gaming-related damage had been playing Call of Duty.
- 44% reported repair or replacement costs between $100 and $300.
- 22% spent between $51 and $100 addressing the damage.
- 39% of incidents involved gaming equipment or personal electronic devices.
- 26% involved televisions or stereo equipment.
- Almost $170 was the average reported repair or replacement cost.
Call of Duty leads the gaming damage ranking
With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 generating renewed interest in the franchise, the research provides insight into the accidental damage that can occur during gaming sessions.
Call of Duty ranked first overall, with 30% of affected respondents saying they were playing a title from the franchise when the incident occurred.
Fortnite and Super Mario Kart rounded out the top three, while other major titles, including Minecraft, Roblox, Grand Theft Auto, and The Last of Us, also appeared in the top 10.
Video games associated with reported gaming-related household damage
| Rank | Video game or franchise | Overall | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of Duty | 30% | 36% | 24% |
| 2 | Fortnite | 24% | 24% | 24% |
| 3 | Super Mario Kart | 23% | 21% | 24% |
| 4 | FIFA/EA Sports FC | 22% | 30% | 15% |
| 5 | Minecraft | 20% | 16% | 23% |
| 6 | Roblox | 18% | 16% | 20% |
| 7 | Grand Theft Auto | 15% | 15% | 14% |
| 8 | God of War | 12% | 16% | 7% |
| 9 | The Last of Us | 10% | 9% | 11% |
| 10 | League of Legends | 9% | 10% | 8% |
Percentages represent respondents who reported experiencing gaming-related household damage. Add a note here confirming whether respondents could select more than one game.
Gaming mishaps cost almost $170 on average
The damage associated with gaming sessions was not always inexpensive to address.
Across all incidents covered by the research, respondents spent an average of almost $170 to repair or replace damaged belongings.
Nearly half (44%) reported costs between $100 and $300, while another 22% spent between $51 and $100.
Electronics and gaming equipment were commonly damaged
Gaming equipment and personal electronic devices were involved in a significant proportion of the reported incidents.
Consoles, controllers, laptops, mobile phones and tablets collectively accounted for 39% of affected items, while televisions and stereo equipment were involved in 26% of incidents.
If the survey captured each item separately, an additional ranking should be included here. Separating controllers, consoles, laptops and phones would produce a more useful and searchable result than combining them into one broad category.
Different games led among men, women and age groups
Call of Duty led among men, associated with 36% of reported incidents. Among women, Fortnite and Super Mario Kart jointly ranked first at 24%.
FIFA or EA Sports FC showed one of the largest differences, appearing in 30% of reported incidents among men compared with 15% among women.
Minecraft showed the opposite pattern, accounting for 23% among women and 16% among men.
How to protect your home and belongings
Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor, notes how home and contents insurance could help cover you for accidents around the home.
“Accidents in the home aren’t always dramatic events. That’s why having suitable home and contents insurance in place is so important.
“While damage from a passionate outburst, such as throwing your controller and damaging your home in anger, is not covered by accidental damage cover, it’s still an important part of home and contents coverage for your home.
“Whether it’s a football smashing through a window, or a spilled drink on the rug, accidental damage cover for home and contents can help give you peace of mind over your home and your belongings so that, should the unexpected happen, you’re covered.”
Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) to check for the inclusions, limits and restrictions before purchasing to make sure the product is suitable.
Methodology
Compare the Market commissioned 3Gem to survey Australian households in September 2025.
