According to a report just published, the video game market generated in France, in 2017, a turnover of 4.3 billion euros. An increase of 18% compared to 2016.
In France, the video game industry is doing well. For the fifth consecutive year, the videogame market recorded a consequent increase of its turnover in France.
The Leisure Software Publishers Union (SELL) has just published its annual report on Monday, February 26th. In 2016, the indicators were already green with a turnover of 3.46 billion euros. It increases by 18% in 2017 to reach the historical record of 4.3 billion.
An increase that can partly be explained by a constantly evolving market: the year 2017 was marked by many outputs of games “triple A” (the equivalent of “blockbusters” in the cinema) … And especially by the the arrival of two new machines: the Nintendo Switch in March 2017 (it has just passed the milestone of a million units sold in France), and the Xbox One X (an optimized Xbox One) last November. And if the PS4-Pro is out late 2016, the bulk of its sales was in 2017.
Three ecosystems
In its study, the SELL distinguishes three ecosystems: video game consoles , a real market engine alone generating 2.401 billion euros; the PC gaming (1.124 billion euros) and mobile games (smartphone or tablet) with a turnover of 778 million euros.
On consoles, the sale of hardware (the console itself) generates 784 million euros, against 1.345 billion euros for software (games), and 272 million euros for accessories (controllers, headsets reality Virtual…).
On PC, the hardware is in the lead with an increase of 45%, or 504 million euros in revenue. Software costs 487 million euros and accessories 133.
On the side of video game publishers, the first French is in fourth position. This is Ubisoft ( Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry …). It is positioned behind the giant Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Activision-Blizzard.
Which games are the most sold in France?
As last year, the football game of the American Electronic Arts, Fifa , which leads the ranking of the best physical sales, in 2017. With 1,364,000 copies sold, Fifa 18 generates a figure of business of € 77,561,888.
It is followed by Call of Duty WWII (Activision), sold at 1,020,201 copies, for a turnover of € 58,469,032.
On the third step of the podium, there is a Nintendo game, for its new console Switch: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , sold 511 191 copies, or 31 738 446 € of CAF .
What is the profile of the French player?
The SELL report also makes it possible to draw a profile of the French player, in 2017. Thus, 53% of the players are men, 47% of the women.
The average age of the French player is 34 (35 for men, 33 for women).
24% of them play every day or almost; 29% play at least twice a week; 23% play two to three times a month; and 24% play two or three times a year.
Habits change ! Formerly very attached to physical versions, the French gradually switch to the dematerialized. On console, downloads (legal) increased by 46% in 2017, against only 6% for CD versions: today, only 59% of players buy games in box, against 41% of digital purchases. But we are still far from PC figures, support on which the dematerialized represents 95% of gaming purchases.
77% of French people consider video games to be a hobby for the whole family, and 84% of parents say they are attentive to the video game practice of their children. 71% of them play with their little blond heads.
Video games too violent? In 2017, securities banned under 18 years (PEGI 18) represent only 13% of the offer, against 32% for games “from 3 years” and 23% of securities “from 12 years” . And the French player is receptive to this offer since PEGI 3 games represent 29% of sales in value and 32% of volume sales. Games classified PEGI 18 are in second position, with respectively 27% and 28% in volume and value …
