Game sales down 16% in 2010

Game Review

Game Review

Australia’s interactive games and entertainment industry recorded a 16% drop in sales in 2010, according to new research. The data excludes revenue generated from online retail sales, downloadable content, online games subscriptions, and games delivered to mobile devices.

According to the report, console game sales declined by 13%, with 19.9 million units sold in 2010 compared to 19.3 million units in 2009. Ron Curry, chief executive of the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association, says despite the fall in sales, the industry remains upbeat compared to international markets, which have suffered from tough economic conditions.

For the third consecutive year, the data reveals family-friendly games were the bestselling genre, accounting for 21% of the number of console game units sold, narrowly beating action games at 20%. “With Kinect, we have changed the landscape of the gaming and entertainment industry. Online games are forecast to reach $534 million by 2014 and mobile games are forecast to hit $496 million in the same period.

Australian retail game hardware and software sales declined by 16 per cent in 2010, reversing a five year trend of ever-increasing record sales figures. Data compiled by independent market research group GfK Retail and Technology Australia, which includes sales from hardware, gaming peripherals and traditional boxed software sold through retail outlets, showed that sales in 2010 were $1.7 billion.

GfK does not measure online sales, downloadable content, online game subscriptions and game purchases for mobile devices such as Apple’s iPhone. Console hardware sales declined by 27 per cent in 2010, with 1.6 million units sold compared to 2.2 million units the year before. Console game sales were also down by 13 per cent, with 16.9 million units sold in 2010 compared to 19.3 million in 2009.

For the third year in a row, the GfK data suggested “family games” were the best selling software genre, representing 21 per cent of all console games sold. Ron Curry, CEO of the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (iGEA), says despite the dip in sales Australia’s video and computer games industry remains buoyant compared to overseas gaming markets. PWC’s Australian Entertainment & Media Outlook 2010 – 2014 report predicts online and mobile games will drive future growth. Online games are forecast to reach $534 million by 2014, while mobile games will enjoy $496 in sales.

By. Game Review