By Sagar V. Mankar According to a report by the French games trade body SELL (reported by Gamesindustry.biz), consumer spending on video game products in France reached an all-time high of €6.1 billion in 2023.
This staggering figure represents a 10% increase compared to 2022 and a 9% uptick from 2020. But what drove this remarkable growth? Let’s explore the key factors.
The Console Craze
One of the primary contributors to the French gaming market’s success was the console segment, which accounted for a whopping 52% of the total market value, exceeding €3 billion – a 24.1% year-on-year increase.
The end of supply issues for the highly coveted PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles played a pivotal role in this surge, with hardware sales climbing 16% year-on-year to €1.7 billion.
Moreover, the accessories market witnessed a remarkable performance, with 6.6 million products sold. Combined with the hardware sales, the overall spending on hardware and accessories rose by 17% to €2.3 billion.
Mobile and PC Gaming
While consoles undoubtedly stole the show, the mobile and PC gaming segments also played a significant role in driving the French gaming market’s growth.
Mobile gaming accounted for €1.5 billion, representing 24% of the market, while PC gaming generated €1.4 billion, also capturing 24% of the market share.
Bricks-and-Mortar Stores
According to James Rebours, the chairman of SELL, one of the key factors contributing to France’s gaming market growth is the country’s robust retail landscape dedicated to video games.
Rebours highlighted the diverse range of retail outlets, including game specialists, multi-specialists, hypermarkets, supermarkets, and online retailers, as a crucial element in promoting video games and reinforcing the efficiency of “retail as a media.”
A Peak or a Prelude?
While the 2023 figures paint an impressive picture, industry experts caution that this extraordinary growth may represent a peak for the French gaming market.
Rebours suggests that 2024 spending is expected to be different, describing it as a “normalized year” considering the console cycle and the lineup of new releases already announced.
Rebours attributes the 2023 peak to an “exceptional mix” of various categories that contributed to the growth, including console availability, hardware and accessory sales catching up, and an impressive lineup of game titles.