The video game market in France was able to show resilience in 2022 despite the economic difficulties, posting a turnover of 5,5 billion euros, down very slightly by 1,6% compared to the year. former. This performance testifies to the solidity of the fundamentals and the sustained demand in a buoyant sector which is based on three complementary ecosystems: console, PC gaming and mobile. According a study by SELL (Union of Leisure Software Publishers), in 2022, 7 out of 10 French people played video games at least occasionally.
Find the complete study in PDF format on the SELL website.
Complementary performance that strengthens a resilient sector with strong potential
The console ecosystem, which represents 46% of the total market value, experienced a slight decrease of 6,6 points due to supply difficulties that affected many sectors. On the other hand, the PC gaming ecosystem experienced historic growth of 5,8 points in one year, generating a turnover of 1,54 billion euros. As for the mobile game ecosystem, which represents 26% of the total market value, it has stabilized with 1,41 billion euros generated. Performance on software sales was particularly solid, driven by PC games and the many new console releases released in 2022.
A market driven by software
Software (console + PC gaming / physical + dematerialized excluding mobile) was the main growth driver of the market in 2022, posting a turnover of 2,1 billion euros, i.e. a growth of 6 points.
The console ecosystem subject to the global situation
The console ecosystem, which contributes 46% of the total market value, fell by 6,6 points in 2022. The console hardware segment was particularly impacted by the shortage of components, posting a decrease of 19 points after a exceptional year 2021. On the other hand, the software console segment posted a very slight drop of 1 point, controlled by launches throughout the year of highly anticipated games and major licenses which outperformed. The physical format remains the majority of sales of complete games, representing 55% of the value generated against 45% in dematerialized format. The continued strong demand for console hardware and the performance of console software confirm the full potential of the industry.
A market driven by the growth of the PC gaming ecosystem
The PC gaming ecosystem experienced a slight decrease of 3 points due to the general context, but achieved its best performance in history with a turnover of 1,54 billion euros, i.e. a growth of 5,8 points linked to the 40-point increase in the PC gaming software segment.
Despite temporary difficulties related to the global economy, the French video game market remains resilient and shows a solid overall performance. This momentum is driven by all of the ecosystems (Console, PC Gaming and Mobile), which have been able to take advantage of their respective strengths to strengthen the industry as a whole. The video game market remains a key sector of the French economy, offering many opportunities for players in the sector, but also for investors seeking to position themselves in buoyant markets with high growth potential.