Man sparks online debate after saying gamers over the age of 25 need to 'grow up'

A TikToker has come under fire after making a bold statement about gaming after 25.

Gaming has come a very long way since the vector graphics of Asteroids and those incredible 8-bit soundtracks.

Now you can have anything from mobile gaming to far-reaching historical strategy, first-person shooters, adventure games, and some truly stunning and moving indie games.

Tech whizzes are even working on ways we can smell games as we play them.

There is an argument about whether video games like Shadow of the Colossus and Journey can now be considered a new form of art.

But according to TikToker @itsaaronwilkinson if you're over 25 then none of this matters anyway, as you shouldn't be gaming after that age.

The TikToker caused controversy on social media after saying that when you turn 26 your other responsibilities mean you shouldn't game anymore.

“You gotta grow up," he said. "You can’t be gaming, as a dad, as a partner, as a husband. It just doesn’t make sense to me.

"Sat there with your headphones on while your missus makes your dinner.

"I grew out of that, a lot of my mates grew out of that as well. CoD with the boys at 26? I got stuff to do, mate.”

Of course settling down and having children does mean your life is going to change significantly.

But that doesn't mean your identity suddenly disappears.

Obviously if you're spending 18 hours a day gaming to the neglect of other things then that's a problem, but taking some time for yourself is extremely important.

Whether that means spending the odd evening gaming with friends, going to a concert or sports game, doing something crafty or artistic, it doesn't matter.

As for people's reaction to the statement, let's just say people took it with a heady pinch of salt.

One sarcastically posted: "Won’t be on tonight lads, Aaron from TikTok says so."

Continuing the same way, another posted: "Just stuck my Xbox on Amazon pal and going to start making TikToks in my car like a real man."

Someone else took a more defiant tone, writing: "I’d be 80 on my death bed I’ll still be running Warzone games."

But perhaps most importantly, someone else pointed out that settling down and having children do not mean that you have to immediately give up all your hobbies.

They wrote: "32 with a partner and 2 kids and we both game when the kids are in bed."

Aaron responded to his critics, saying that he 'couldn’t care less about their opinions'.