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UK games industry reports record £7.16bn in 2021

Bullet Club

Member

UK games industry reports record £7.16bn in 2021​


Topping the previous record set in 2020 during the height of Covid-19 lockdowns

The UK games market was worth a record £7.16 billion in 2021, according to trade body UKIE.

On Thursday it published its UK Consumer Games Market Valuation 2021 report, which was compiled using data from market research companies including ABC, the BFI, GfK, Kantar, OCC, Omdia, Nielsen and NPD.

It found that last year, the UK games market grew 1.9% from the previous record of £7 billion, which was set in 2020 when many people flocked to gaming during Covid 19 lockdowns.

Growth was led by hardware sales, which were up 17.4% in 2021 to £2.66 billion.

Console hardware revenues accounted for £1.13 billion of the total, due to strong demand for the recently launched PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, as well as the new Nintendo Switch OLED model.

The growth in hardware sales offset a decline in software revenues, which were down 6.32% in 2021 to £4.28 billion.

Digital console game sales declined 5.59% to £1.65 billion and digital PC game sales fell 7% to £620 million, according to the report.

UKIE attributed the declines to a relatively limited number of major releases in 2021, when a number of high-profile games were delayed. These included God of War Ragnarök, Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West, Hogwarts Legacy, Gotham Knights, Dying Light 2, and the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Grand Theft Auto V.

Mobile game sales were flat year-on-year at £1.46 billion, while physical sales of new and pre-owned games both fell by just under 21%, to £511 million and £33.8 million respectively.

Despite the overall decline in software sales, 2021 still marked only the second time annual software revenues have exceeded £4 billion. In comparison, the UK video market generated sales of £3.75 billion in 2021, while the music market generated almost £1.7 billion.

Revenue from video game licensed toys and merchandise increased 33.6% in 2021 to £159 million, with Pokémon products leading the way.

“The important story here is of how much of the lockdown-related boost seen in 2020 has been successfully retained during 2021’s year of correction,” said Steven Bailey, senior games analyst at research firm Omdia.

“We expect a return to growth for most digital areas in 2022, as game-makers continue creating new standards of compelling content, and explore combinations of business models that can help keep people engaged and connected even during unstable times.”

Source: VGC
 

Matt_Fox

Member
I'd have predicted that 2021 would prove a poor year for software sales, neither XSX or PS5 launched with a killer app and the likes of Deathloop, Returnal, Ratchet, etc were all underperformers. Even the latest COD, which is huge in the UK underperformed somewhat.

However, I suspect 2022 will do far better for software whilst also maintaining high hardware sales (due to the infamous stock shortages).
 

reksveks

Member
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In table form.

Using SW Boxed and SW Digital console numbers, physical has gone from 27.0% to 23.8%
 

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
the UK does have Rockstar North. i know the HQ is in NY but still...GTA is a british/scottish game. and those cunts are bringing stupid amounts of money in. it's a shame they don't pay their taxes. i'm sure some idiot will be counting all the money they make.
 
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Woopah

Member
the UK does have Rockstar North. i know the HQ is in NY but still...GTA is a british/scottish game. and those cunts are bringing stupid amounts of money in. it's a shame they don't pay their taxes. i'm sure some idiot will be counting all the money they make.
I believe this is money made from the sale of video game products in the UK, so where the developers are based has no impact on these numbers.
 
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