2017 Economic Impact Report

The 2017 Economic Impact Report serves as a comprehensive assessment of the United States entertainment software industry’s contributions to the national economy. By analyzing key performance indicators from 2015 and 2016, the report establishes the sector as a significant engine for economic growth, highlighting its role in job creation and financial output.

The findings underscore the industry's substantial scale and influence. In 2016, the U.S. video game industry generated more than $24.5 billion in software sales. This commercial success translated into a robust labor market, with the industry directly employing over 65,000 individuals during the same period. Furthermore, the sector demonstrated strong productivity, contributing more than $11.7 billion in value added to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015.

The scope of the analysis is focused exclusively on the United States, providing a snapshot of the domestic video game market's economic footprint. By quantifying direct employment figures and GDP contributions, the report illustrates the industry's transition into a major pillar of the modern American entertainment landscape. These data points collectively reinforce the thesis that the video game sector is a vital, high-growth component of the national economy, characterized by significant financial scale and a substantial professional workforce.