The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment revealed new data today that showed the UK video game market grew by 10% in 2018 to a whopping £5.7bn! In short, software sales were up to £4bn with 50% coming from DLC and in-game microtransactions, all of those FIFA packs and V-Bucks really add up when you think about it. Mobile gaming saw a rise of 8.7% to £1.17bn but physical sales were down -2.6% to £770m (which is roughly 129,000,000,000 V-Bucks) and pre-owned game sales slumped to just £68m.
Games like Fortnite and PUBG would have been catalysts to this growth, the death of Toys R Us would have helped as well (Geoffrey is on the dole, at home, smashing Black Ops 4 right now no doubt). Parents have to bribe their children somehow and what better way to get 5 minutes of peace and quiet than to throw a tenner onto Fortnite and watch their kids jump with joy as they spend your hard earned money on a rare axe.
I know what you're thinking, "but what does this data tell us because it sounds pretty boring" and you are right, but, the UK market being on the rise can only a good thing. More money in the gaming pot means more money spent on the development of titles. The increase of in-game microtransactions could be proof that the free to download games (that have in game purchases) are working, lets be honest not everyone buys V-Bucks or Apex coins, but that doesn't stop them from playing the titles for free does it? Some people enjoy opening FIFA packs with their spare money, others like a new skin on Fortnite. Personally we would have spent all £5.7bn just on Peely, the beautiful yellow rascal!
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