‘You don’t get anywhere’: Joe Rogan says that playing video games is a ‘waste of time’

Podcaster faced backlash from gamers Ninja and DrLupo

Joe Rogan has come under fire for suggesting that playing video games is a “waste of time”.

The podcaster interviewed fitness guru Joe De Sena for The Joe Rogan Experience, when the pair discussed children who turn to video games when they have no role models in their lives.

“Video games are a real problem,” Rogan said. “They’re a real problem. You know why? Because they’re f***ing fun. They’re [addictive], I have a real problem with them. You do them, and they’re real exciting, but you don’t get anywhere.”

Comparing gaming to martial arts, he continued: “You could be doing something exciting and fun, or you could just be playing f***ing video games.

“Three years later you could just be that same kid, just playing video games, waiting for the next whatever the f*** game is... and you’re gonna waste your time.”

Rogan then went on to discuss gamers who make “a lot of f***ing money” through streaming.

“You have to be adaptable, you have to be able to play multiple video games, because the one video game that you get really good at, what are the odds it’ll be around 5 years from now?”

Rogan’s comments sparked backlash from the gaming community, with streamer Ninja sharing a video to Twitter saying: “Joe doesn’t really understand the full context of what the gaming community is and how many different avenues you can be successful in in gaming.”

Meanwhile, Twitch and YouTube creator DrLupo commented: “Listening to this podcast is a waste of time... Generalised bad take is bad. Anything can be harmful in excess. Video games have made many people successful, they’re the cause for a majority of my friendships, etc.”

The Independent has approached Rogan’s representatives for comment.