Popularity of video games continues to increase, with women and 45-65 year-olds driving player growth

ISFE Chair Olaf Coenen said: “Our revenue remains stable after the exceptional increase between 2019 and 2020, owing to video games’ role in helping millions of people stay connected during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Meanwhile, our player base has increased, with women and 45-65-year-olds driving this trend, demonstrating the growing popularity of video games as more people discover the power of play.”

EGDF President Hendrik Lesser said: “The video game sector includes micro studios to large multi-national corporations. In 2020, we employed more than 98,000 people in Europe. Together, we create games that more than 50% of Europeans enjoy. We make games to express ourselves as artists, for education, as businesses and to support wellbeing and health, and often to bring people together – but, most important of all, is that people enjoy them and have fun. Our players come from all ages, genders, creeds and colours. We can proudly say our industry is a great success story for Europe’s digital, cultural and creative economy.”

Key Facts 2021- highlights

Economy, demographics and behaviour

• Revenue remained stable at €23.3bn

• Digital revenue represents 81% of total revenue

• Smartphones and tablets continue to be the leading devices for digital growth

• 52% of the population between the ages of 6 and 64 plays video games

• The number of players has increased: 124.8m players (vs 118.3m in 2020): the increase is noted on all platforms: mobile devices, consoles and PC 

• 76% of video game players are over 18 and the average age of a video game player in Europe is 31.3 years old

• 48% of game players in Europe are women/girls (average age, 32)

• 48% of video game players are girls (6-15 years old). Research has found that girls who play video games are 3 x more likely to pursue a STEM career than girls who don’t

• On average, people in Europe spend
  • 9 hours / week playing video games 
  • 14.2 hours / week on social media
  • 23.5 hours / week watching TV

• The sector provided more than 98,219 jobs in Europe in 2020

Esports:

• Global revenue exceeded €1 billion for the first time
• The global esports audience stands at 489 million
• Europe ranks 2nd, globally, in revenue per enthusiast
• ISFE Esports published the Guide to Esports

Responsible gameplay:

• ISFE launched #Seizethecontrols campaign to inform parents of the best-in-class tools and guidance available to them
• Continued high awareness of PEGI: 73% of video game players and 67% of parents are aware of PEGI age labels
• Parental supervision remains high with the vast majority of parents having agreements with their children on spending

The full Key Facts report is accessible here.

Any journalist interested in topics relevant to ISFE and EGDF is welcome to get in touch with us for information or individual briefings.

Contacts for ISFE:

Shweta Kulkarni

Director of Communications

Email: [email protected]

Heidi Lambert, tel: +44 7932 141291

Press Relations

Email: [email protected]

www.isfe.eu

Twitter: @ISFE_Games

Players are at the heart of what we do.

Since 1998, ISFE has ensured that the voice of a responsible games ecosystem is heard and understood, that its creative and economic potential is supported and celebrated, and that players around the world continue to enjoy great video game playing experiences. ISFE represents the video games industry in Europe and is based in Brussels, Belgium. Our membership comprises national trade associations in 18 countries across Europe which represent in turn thousands of developers and publishers at national level. ISFE also has as direct members the leading European and international video game companies.

For more information, visit www.isfe.eu

Contact for EGDF:

Jari-Pekka Kaleva, tel: +358 40 716 3640   
Managing Director, European Games Developer Federation (EGDF)
Senior Policy Analyst, Neogames Finland ry.

Email: [email protected]

www.egdf.eu
Twitter: @jpkaleva       
 

Uniting the industry

The European Games Developer Federation e.f. (EGDF) unites national trade associations representing game developer studios based in 22 European countries: Austria (PGDA), Belgium (FLEGA), Croatia (CGDA), Czech Republic (GDACZ), Denmark (Producentforeningen), Finland (Suomen pelinkehittäjät), France (SNJV), Germany (GAME), Italy (IIDEA), Lithuania (LZKA), Netherlands (DGA), Norway (Produsentforeningen), Poland (PGA, Indie Game Poland Foundation), Portugal (AVPV), Romania (RGDA), Serbia (SGA), Spain (DEV), Slovakia (SGDA), Sweden (SpelplanASGD), Switzerland (SGDA), Turkey (TOGED) and the United Kingdom (TIGA). For more information, visit https://www.egdf.eu/.