Report
Bilan du Marché Français: 2025
The French video game market demonstrated significant resilience in 2025, generating €5.856 billion in total revenue, a 2.9% increase over the previous year. This performance marks the second-highest in the industry’s history, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of the national cultural economy. Growth was primarily fueled by a rebound in console hardware sales and a record-breaking 11% surge in the mobile sector, which reached €1.792 billion. The market maintains a balanced ecosystem, with consoles commanding a 44% share, followed by mobile at 31% and PC gaming at 26%. Software remains the primary revenue driver, accounting for over two-thirds of the total market. While physical game sales faced a double-digit decline, this was effectively mitigated by the expansion of digital content, including microtransactions and downloadable content. Electronic Arts emerged as the leading publisher across console and PC platforms, while the mobile landscape remains almost entirely dominated by free-to-play models, which now represent 94% of mobile revenue. The industry’s reach expanded to 40.2 million players, characterized by a maturing demographic where adults comprise 88% of the base. High engagement levels persist, with 76% of players gaming on a weekly basis and a growing trend toward cross-platform usage. Alongside this growth, there is a heightened emphasis on responsible gaming. Parental involvement has reached new heights, with 67% of parents actively monitoring gaming habits through PEGI classifications and standardized parental control tools. This commitment to safety, supported by organizations like the SELL and events such as Paris Games Week, ensures that the industry continues to thrive as a mature, socially responsible, and culturally significant sector within France.
SELL – Syndicat des Éditeurs de Logiciels de Loisirs
Presentation
Gamer Motivation Profile: Empirical Research Methodology
The Gamer Motivation Profile provides an empirical framework for understanding player behavior by categorizing gaming preferences into twelve distinct motivational factors. Developed through psychometric techniques and factor analysis, the model identifies how specific gaming desires—such as competition, immersion, or mastery—cluster together to drive player engagement. The primary thesis posits that gaming motivations exist on a spectrum, where both high and low scores serve as critical indicators of a player’s preferences, allowing for a nuanced analysis of why individuals gravitate toward specific titles or genres. The research is underpinned by a robust dataset of over 1.25 million unique gamers worldwide, with a demographic composition of 74% male, 22% female, and 3% non-binary, and a median age of 23. The geographic scope is global, with the largest concentrations of participants in North America (33%) and Western Europe (14%). Data collection relied on a five-minute online survey, which achieved high internal and test-retest reliability. By mapping these motivations against a 50th-percentile industry norm, the model allows analysts to visualize which factors are disproportionately important for specific game audiences, effectively linking demographic data with franchise-specific engagement. The twelve motivations are grouped into six thematic clusters: Action-Social (Destruction, Excitement, Community, Competition), Mastery-Achievement (Challenge, Strategy, Completion, Power), and Immersion-Creativity (Fantasy, Story, Discovery, Design). Each factor is defined by its behavioral anchors, providing a clear distinction between high-intensity, goal-oriented play and more relaxed, expressive, or exploratory experiences. By utilizing this standardized methodology, the research offers an actionable tool for developers and industry analysts to decode player behavior, predict engagement patterns, and better align game design with the psychological needs of diverse gaming audiences.
Quantic Foundry
Report
Video Games as a Tool for Mental Resilience: Italy
Video games serve as a significant mechanism for mental resilience and emotional regulation among the Italian population. A survey of 1,021 respondents aged 16 and older reveals that a substantial majority of Italian players utilize gaming to mitigate negative psychological states. Specifically, 71% of participants report that gaming helps reduce stress, while 60% use it to manage anxiety and 49% rely on it to combat feelings of isolation. These figures demonstrate that gaming functions as a vital outlet for navigating everyday challenges and difficult life transitions, with 50% of respondents explicitly noting that the medium helps them endure personal hardships. The demographic profile of the Italian gaming community is broad, with the largest segment of players falling into the 45-54 age bracket at 21%, followed closely by those aged 65 and older at 24%. Mobile devices remain the primary platform for 59% of users, significantly outpacing consoles and computers. Social connectivity is a core component of the experience, as 62% of players engage in online multiplayer sessions at least monthly. Beyond emotional support, gaming is perceived as a tool for cognitive development, with 71% of players reporting improvements in cognitive function, 70% in creativity, and 67% in problem-solving skills. The impact of gaming extends into familial and professional spheres, fostering positive interpersonal dynamics and skill acquisition. Approximately 39% of parents in Italy report that shared gaming experiences have strengthened their relationships with their children. While the influence on career paths remains lower in Italy at 28% compared to the global average of 43%, the medium continues to provide a unique space for pursuing hobbies and educational interests. Puzzle, action, and skill-based games represent the most popular genres, underscoring a preference for interactive experiences that challenge the mind while providing a structured environment for relaxation.
IIDEA – Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association
Report
PEGI: European Game Information
The text serves as an educational and promotional overview of the Pan‑European Game Information (PEGI) rating system, using a comic‑style narrative to capture the attention of younger gamers while delivering core information about age‑based content classification. Its central thesis is that PEGI provides the most comprehensive mechanism for informing consumers about video‑game suitability, thereby ensuring safe and informed purchasing decisions across Europe. Key points emphasize that PEGI operates in more than thirty countries and employs a traffic‑light colour scheme to convey age recommendations: green icons for games suitable for all audiences (ages 3 and 7), amber for intermediate levels, and red for titles restricted to adults (18+). The system also includes content descriptors that clarify specific elements that may affect suitability, reinforcing transparency for parents and players. The narrative illustrates the progression through various “worlds” representing age brackets—3, 7, 12, 16, and 18—highlighting that each tier is tailored to increasingly experienced gamers. The scope is continental, covering the European video‑game market and all major platforms, with references to the official website and downloadable applications for iPhone, Android, and Windows 7 Phone. No empirical methodology is presented; the piece relies on descriptive exposition and visual storytelling rather than survey data. Overall, the material positions PEGI as a reliable, universally adopted standard that guarantees 100 % informed choice for consumers.
AEVI
Whitepaper
Gamer Motivation Profile: Empirical Research and Data Insights
The Gamer Motivation Profile provides a comprehensive empirical framework for understanding player behavior through a psychometric model that categorizes gaming preferences into twelve distinct motivational drivers. These drivers—organized into six primary clusters including Action, Social, Mastery, Achievement, Immersion, and Creativity—allow developers and marketers to quantify why specific audiences engage with particular game titles. By linking psychometric data with demographic variables and specific game franchises, the model offers a data-driven approach to audience segmentation and product positioning. The research is built upon a robust dataset derived from over 1.75 million global participants who have completed the Gamer Motivation Profile survey. This large-scale, ongoing collection of data enables real-time analysis of player demographics, such as age, gender, and play frequency, alongside their psychological motivations. The methodology utilizes factor analysis to identify how various gaming preferences cluster together, providing a statistically sound basis for comparing individual titles against broader genre norms. The primary utility of this research lies in its ability to generate actionable insights for game development and player acquisition. Through a dynamic dashboard, users can perform side-by-side comparisons of different franchises, identify "game neighborhoods" based on shared motivational profiles, and filter titles by specific criteria to uncover underserved market segments. By mapping how individual games deviate from genre benchmarks, the model helps stakeholders prioritize development features, refine marketing messaging, and identify potential competitors even across disparate genres. This analytical toolset is designed to assist industry professionals in making evidence-based decisions regarding portfolio management and the strategic targeting of core and mid-core gaming audiences.
Quantic Foundry
Report
Interview with Game Expert at Line Studio: Japan Market Insights
**Market Insights: Japan** *Prepared for Korean Game Developers & Publishers* *Date: March 2026* --- ## Executive Summary Japan’s mobile gaming ecosystem is undergoing a rapid shift. While heavyweight, long‑session RPGs once dominated the charts, lighter‑weight genres—puzzle, strategy, and simulation—now account for roughly **30 % of all downloads**. At the same time, **39 % of Japanese gamers are already active on two or more platforms** (iOS, Android, console, PC), opening fertile ground for cross‑platform titles and ecosystem‑wide monetisation strategies. Korean “sub‑culture” games have captured a disproportionate share of this evolving market. Collectible RPGs such as **Blue Archive** and **Goddess of Victory: NIKKE**, together with the MMORPG **Lineage W**, resonate because they blend **moe‑style character designs, high‑polish visuals, short‑session playability, and tightly localized narratives**. Success in Japan now hinges less on raw production values and more on **deep cultural localisation, storytelling that aligns with Japanese sensibilities, softer monetisation cues, and design that respects short‑session habits**. Empowering local Japanese partners to co‑create content, operations, and marketing is essential. The most promising near‑term opportunities are: * **AAA‑grade mobile RPGs** with cross‑platform integration (mobile ↔ console ↔ PC). * **Casual or hybrid titles** that combine low‑barrier gameplay with collection‑progression loops. Conversely, **sports** and **Web3** genres face high entry barriers due to entrenched local preferences and regulatory uncertainty. Sustained growth will require **long‑term IP stewardship, fan‑centered brand building, and continuous alignment with Japanese user preferences**, rather than relying solely on technical excellence. --- ## 1. Market Landscape – From Heavyweight RPGs to Light‑Weight Genres ### 1.1 Shift in Genre Preference - **Download Share (Q4 2025):** - Puzzle/Strategy/Simulation: **≈ 30 %** - Traditional heavyweight RPGs (e.g., turn‑based, open‑world): **≈ 22 %** - Collectible/Idle RPGs: **≈ 18 %** - Other (social, casual, AR): **≈ 30 %** - **Drivers of the shift** 1. **Time‑scarcity:** Japanese commuters and office workers increasingly favor games that can be enjoyed in 5‑10‑minute bursts. 2. **Platform diversification:** With smartphones as the primary device, developers are optimizing for quick load times and low‑memory footprints. 3. **Monetisation fatigue:** Players are gravitating toward titles that reward skill and collection rather than pure spend‑to‑win mechanics. ### 1.2 Multi‑Platform Play - **Cross‑platform adoption:** 39 % of gamers regularly switch between at least two devices (e.g., mobile ↔ console, mobile ↔ PC). - **Implications:** - **Data continuity** (cloud saves, shared progression) is now a baseline expectation. - **Cross‑play events** and **seasonal
KOCCA – Korea Creative Content Agency