It is one of the few sectors to have been boosted by the global pandemic and its containments.
The video game market represents more than $ 300 billion in revenue worldwide and sees its growth boosted by the impact of the pandemic and the rise of mobile games, according to a study published on Thursday by the consulting firm Accenture.
The video game industry now weighs more heavily than those of music and cinema combined, underlines this study, which was carried out among 4,000 players in four of the world's largest markets (China, Japan, United Kingdom, United States). ).
And France is no exception with a record year for the French video game market, which achieved its best performance and posted growth of + 11.3% in 2020. The revenues generated in France by sales of consoles increased by 11%, notably as a result of the success of the Switch (Nintendo).
Dear mom, 2nd day of confinement, my usual weekend is going quietly but the video game servers are starting to show some signs of weakness.
- ᏟᏂᎧᏟᎧ (@chocobidou) March 15, 2020
"The emergence of new gaming platforms and changing demographics mean that video game companies are less and less product-centric and more experience-centric," says Seth Schuler, Head of software and platforms industry at Accenture.
“The industry must strike a balance between the needs of its new followers, who care deeply about their online interactions, and the expectations of their most loyal players who remain the most lucrative customers,” he adds.
The milestone of 3 billion players by the end of 2023
The video game market now has 2.7 billion players worldwide and has grown by 500 million users over the past three years.
It is expected to continue to swell, gaining 400 million players by the end of 2023.
Of the newcomers, 60% are women, 30% are under 25, and a third of them identify as non-white.
These “gamers” particularly appreciate the possibilities offered by mobile games.
Long-time players, on the other hand, are predominantly white males over the age of 25.
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Many survey participants pointed out that video games help them meet people with similar interests, a trend that has intensified with the pandemic.
A majority of those polled also indicated that they gamble to stay in touch with their friends, make new ones or find a community that suits them.
According to the results of the annual study published in November by Médiamétrie on behalf of Sell, the union of leisure software publishers, a third of French players (32% precisely), play more than before confinement. 52% of players believe that their practice allows "to create social bond", and one in three declares that it allowed "to keep in touch" with those close to them.
