The Association representing the video game industry in Italy, IIDEA, disclosed data on the video game market and consumers in Italy in 2020. In a scenario heavily influenced by the pandemic, the Italian market recorded a record performance, generating a turnover of 2 billion and 179 million euros, a growth of + 21.9% compared to 2019.
The driving force was software sales which saw a turnover of 1.7 billion euros, a growth of 24.8% compared to the previous year. In particular, the digital sector, including digital downloads on consoles, PCs and Apps, has seen a great expansion that has made it go from 602 million euros the previous year to 799 million in 2020..
IIDEA President Marco Saletta tells us: “Two factors can explain this fact. Mobile has taught everyone that digital purchases are quick and easy and often allow you to enjoy the content in real time. In just one year, the lockdown has changed consumer habits, an acceleration that usually occurs in five years. This is also valid for video games ”.
Thanks to the good performance of the next-gen consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S, and Nintendo Switch, the console sector has developed a turnover of 395 million euros with a growth trend of 6.9%.
However, the lack of new generation consoles on the market during the Christmas period could have slowed down this figure, explains Marco Saletta: “The figure could have been better and not only for the new generation consoles. The entire hardware sector was affected by the problem of microprocessors on the global market. Currently, the excess demand has repercussions not only on the videogame sector, to give an example, at the moment the automotive sector is also in difficulty “.
Gamers in Italy
The number of gamers remained substantially unchanged compared to the previous year, 16.7 million people enjoyed video games during the year, 38% of the Italian population between the ages of 6 and 64, of which 56% men and 44% women.
To play, women still prefer mobile devices, tablets and smartphones, on the other hand, 2.5 million use consoles compared to 4.2 million for males. Similar data also for PC players where the female component is about half of the male one, 2.7 million and 4.5.
The impact of COVID-19
If the number of gamers has remained stable, their involvement has grown, probably influenced by the greater time spent at home. During 2020 Italians have in fact dedicated an average of 8 hours a week to play on all devices, an increase of more than half an hour compared to the previous survey.
The Report notes an increase in the time dedicated to all platforms, with the exception of older consoles and smartphones, which recorded a slight decrease compared to 2019.
Physiologically, playing time reached its highest peaks during lockdown periods, +1 hour / week year over year during the first wave, +0.6 hours / week during the second.
Also during the lockdown, online multiplayer video games, those with interaction between people, had a great support role for gamers. 50% used this specific type of titles to stay in touch with friends, 48% to feel less isolated, 39% as a tool to combat anxiety.
In the ranking of the best-selling video games in 2020 at the top we find all titles that can be played online. The evergreen FIFA, the phenomenon GTA V which has a huge online community, but also Animal Crossing: New Horizons, a game launched on March 20, 2020 on International Happiness Day, which became the happy island for millions of gamers during isolation.
Another interesting fact that emerged from the Report concerns parents, 19% of them played video games, educational or otherwise, with their children, in particular with those between the ages of 6 and 10.
Marco Saletta tells us: “Those born with video games are more inclined to let their children play, but the lockdown has also forced parents to get closer to the medium. I am the father of a nine year old girl who every day asked me to play Among Us with her. For me a very complicated title, I had to learn and play with my daughter in order not to leave her alone. The boys used Among Us to socialize and not compete. This is very important”.
Methodology
The data contained in the report was developed on the basis of a research methodology curated and promoted at an international level by the European federation of the video game industry. ISFE, and refer to three different sources: GSD for physical market data, GSD and GameTrack for digital product data, App Annie and Game Track for mobile market data. Consumer data, collected in the fourth quarter of 2020 as part of the GameTrack project, is based on the administration of online and offline surveys on a representative sample of the population aged 6 to 64.
