The most poverty-stricken players never make it into the “hardcore” echelon at all. Over half of Americans own a smartphone, also known as the console for filthy casuals … along with the Nintendo Wii and Wii U, also branded as systems meant for “casual” players, and also the cheapest mainstream consoles available. PC game that do not require expensive graphics cards (e.g. Facebook and browser games) are also the ones that are considered “casual” no matter how many hours or high scores the player logs in-game. It’s not about how much time you spend playing games—it’s also about what you can afford.
Games have a serious accessibility problem. Usually when people complain about games not being accessible, they are talking about the culture, as well as the difficulty and in-jokes inherent in videogames. I think a big part of gamer culture is about class barriers as well: You have to be a “nerd,” which unfortunately implies a certain class bracket. If you’re a poor gamer and you want to be considered “hardcore,” then you’re going to have to work a lot harder to prove your credentials socially than a rich gamer who can easily fill their living room with expensive gadgets.