Today, the line between "celebrity" and "gamer" isn't as clear-cut as it used to be. Not only are there celebrity gamers who've made names and livings for themselves out of their digital prowess, but there also gamers who happen to be celebrities!
A few gamer celebrities come as no surprise. Drake, for example, has appeared on Ninja's stream playing Fortnite. Tom Holland Michael Fassbender both expressed their love their appreciation for Uncharted and Assassin's Creed during press tours for film adaptations. And don't forget Henry Cavill and his legendary love for Warhammer 40K.
However, for each celebrity open about their preferences for certain games and consoles, there are others whose interest in gaming is a little more unexpected. Sometimes, it isn't the person, but rather the games they love. The results are surprising, funny, and often heartwarming—gamers, we're everywhere!
Famous Gamers
Daniel Craig is one example of a celebrity gamer, and not just for the Bond games either (though Goldeneye 007 is a classic for a reason). In a 2010 interview, Craig said he favors games with "big, fat storylines" such as Halo. He also voiced a preference for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, though admitted he can only play for half an hour before "feel[ing] dirty."
Since the launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons in 2020, many celebrities, such as Brie Larson and Chrissy Teigen, posted about the game keeping them company during quarantine. However, Elijah Wood may be the most high-profile villager in the game.
After a player named Jessica tweeted that she was buying turnips for 599 bells (if you don't know the "stalk market" works in AC:NH, you'll have to look it up), she received a DM from Wood asking if he could visit her island. Of course, she said yes!
Wood was apparently extremely polite, as befitting Frodo Baggins, calling Jessica's island "beautiful," asking to pick fruit, and hanging out with her friends. He even defended The Last Jedi. If we were Jessica, we'd frame screenshots from the game around our house.
Another celebrity gamer was the late, great Robin Williams. Williams had wide-ranging taste in games; he enjoyed trash talking with teenagers in Call of Duty, solving puzzles in Portal, and delving into World of Warcraft. Williams' love of video games was sparked by The Legend of Zelda, a franchise which he named his daughter after.
The Legend Of The Gold-Plated Wii
Joel Rouse/ Ministry of Defence on Wikimedia
And, of course, we can't write about celebrity gamers without shouting out Queen Elizabeth II and her legendary 24K gold-plated Wii. The sources for this story were always a little loose, but it's a fun one. Even if there wasn't any truth to the legend, the image of a gamer queen cracks us up.
So, the late Queen was reportedly—remember, take this with a tablespoon of salt—a Nintendo fan. Specifically, she was absolutely hooked on Wii bowling! As Her Majesty was notably spry, both physically and mentally,it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that she had excellent hand-eye coordination for an octogenarian.
After the story of the Queen's alleged Wii mania was leaked, the now-defunct company THQ decided to capitalize on it. THQ assumed that the Queen wouldn't be happy bowling on a regular console that any family within a certain tax bracket could purchase. No, they commissioned a Wii plated with 24-karat gold.
Unfortunately, the console never made it into Her Majesty's grasp. Buckingham Palace's official Correspondence Team was unable to accept unsolicited gifts. When THQ split up in 2013., it seemed like the fate of that golden Wii would forever be uncertain.
Miraculously, the Wii (and a certificate declaring its' authenticity) resurfaced in a collector's home in 2019, where it would stay for three more years. Attempts were made to sell the set (minus a gold nunchuK) for an eye-watering $300,000 were not met with success. Only after the Queen's passing in 2022, did her legendary Wii find a new home for a modest $36,000.
