The Yearbook of the video game industry in Spain has been published, which confirms that the turnover was 1479 million euros in 2019.
The Spanish Video Game Association (AEVI) has published the billing data for the industry. It has done so through the 2019 Video Game Industry Yearbook, a document that indicates the increase in digital sales compared to the previous year. The total turnover, which is 1,479 euros, is also confirmed, a figure that experiences a noticeable decrease of 3.3%, attributed to the drop in hardware sales. The Spanish industry continues to be, even so, among the 10 most powerful in the world.
Spain is once again part of the top ten markets in the world in #videogames 🎮 with a turnover of 1,479 million euros in 2019. Check this and other data in the #AnuarioAEVI 2019 👉https: //t.co/oZGsarAmCQ pic.twitter .com / TThNVJcVPC
– AEVI (@videojuegosAEVI) April 14, 2020
According to the information, the online market has grown to reach the historical record of 725 million euros, representing an increase of 6.6%. Of all this amount, 366 million euros correspond to online platforms, while 359 million come from income related to mobile phones and tablets. However, this does not mean that the physical format market shows signs of weakness, as it continues to lead the sector's sales with a turnover of 754 million euros (333 million for software; 287 million euros for hardware; and 133 million for the sale of accessories). In 2018, sales in physical format were 850 million euros.
Most players: 42%
The AEVI press release explains that throughout 2019 8.4 million video games, 1.1 million consoles and 4.2 million accessories were sold, something that reinforces the idea that consoles continue to operate in the Spanish market. Regarding the number of users, the figure of 15 million has been exceeded, "about half of Spaniards between the ages of 6 and 64". The number of female players is also on the rise, as they make up 42% of users. The number of esports followers also increased (2.9 million). "It is reflected that the Spanish dedicated an average of 6.7 hours a week to this activity", a lower amount compared to countries such as the United Kingdom (11 hours), France (8.6 hours) or Germany (8.3 hours).
José María Moreno, CEO of AEVI, highlighted the economic consolidation of the industry in Spain: “These data, prior to the current situation of enormous global uncertainty, show the strength of the video game sector in Spain. It is significant that the market is set at a time of transition in the industry, prior to the launch of a new generation of consoles. Still waiting to observe the new consumption trends due to the coronavirus crisis, last year's data reveals that we are a sector that continues to lead the cultural industries and technological development in our country, generating more than 9,000 jobs for quality, with a key role in our digital economy and an increasing presence in other areas such as education, health or business ”, he declares.
File photo (AEVI)
Government explores measures to support development
The Vice President of the Government and Minister of Economy and Business, Nadia Calviño, assures that the video game is "a priority sector within the digital economy", so that the Executive "is working on a plan for the revitalization of investors and the development of the audiovisual sector in Spain ”, which will incorporate video games. José Manual Rodríguez Uribes, who has the Culture and Sports portfolio, is committed to "developing new public policies" that promote the consolidation and growth of the sector. To do this, they will open "a direct line of support for development." Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, observes the enormous potential of the industry and is committed to working to attract new investors.
Like many other economic sectors, video games have also suffered from the effects of the coronavirus. AEVI has moved a series of proposals to mitigate the effects that the crisis is having on the industry.
