France reports and market data
Documents
Essential Video Game News: French Market Report (February 2019)
The French video game market achieved a record turnover of €4.9 billion in 2018, marking a robust 15% growth across console, PC, and mobile ecosystems.
- The French video game market reached a record €4.9 billion in 2018, representing a 15% year-over-year growth across console, PC, and mobile sectors.
- Digital distribution is the primary revenue driver, accounting for 97% of PC software sales, while mobile software revenue grew by 22% and console software revenue increased by 67%.
- Gaming is a mainstream activity in France with 51% of the population identifying as regular gamers, primarily utilizing smartphones and home consoles.
Essential Video Game News: October 2018
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the French video game industry as of October 2018, detailing consumer profiles, market performance, and the regulatory efforts led by the Union of Video Game Publishers (SELL).
- The French video game industry generated 4.3 billion euros in 2017, marking an 18% year-over-year growth driven by a 23% increase in the console ecosystem and a 22% rise in mobile gaming.
- Gaming is a mainstream activity in France, with 74% of the population playing games and the average regular gamer being 39 years old for men and 37 for women.
- The Union of Video Game Publishers (SELL) promotes the PEGI rating system, which is currently used by 65% of French adults to monitor and guide their children's gaming habits.
2017 Figures: The French Video Game Market
The French video game market reached a historic milestone in 2017, generating 4.3 billion euros in total turnover and achieving a record growth rate of 18 percent.
- The French video game market reached 4.3 billion euros in 2017, marking a record 18 percent growth rate.
- Consoles dominated the market with 56 percent of total value, driven by a 20 percent increase in software turnover and a 46 percent surge in digital sales.
- Digital distribution is the primary revenue driver for PC gaming, accounting for 95 percent of its software income.
Baromètre Annuel du Jeu Vidéo en France 2017
The French video game industry in 2017 demonstrates significant resilience and structural maturation, positioning itself as a globally competitive hub for development.
- The global video game market is projected to grow from €60 billion in 2017 to nearly €80 billion by the end of 2021, with mobile gaming being the largest segment at €22.5 billion in 2017.
- The 'premium' economic model (paid-at-purchase with no additional content) has become dominant in 2017, adopted by 63.9% of studios, surpassing the free-to-play model which saw a significant 26.8-point decline.
- French video game companies are predominantly small, with an average of 29.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in 2017, an increase of 3.2 FTE since 2016, though half of companies have 6 FTE or fewer.
Guide RGPD pour les Développeurs de Jeux Vidéo
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as the definitive legal framework for video game developers operating within or targeting the European Union.
- The GDPR significantly increases potential penalties for non-compliance, with fines up to 20 Million Euros or 4% of annual global turnover, a substantial increase from the previous 3 Million Euros maximum under the 1978 French law.
- Data Protection Officers (DPOs) are not held responsible for GDPR non-compliance; the data controller or processor bears this responsibility. DPOs cannot be penalized for performing their duties due to their independence, though they can be dismissed for reasons unrelated to their DPO role.
- Consent under GDPR must be a free, specific, informed, and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes, given by a statement or clear affirmative action, and the data controller must be able to prove valid consent.
Baromètre Annuel du Jeu Vidéo en France Edition 2018
The 2018 Annual Barometer of the Video Game Industry in France provides a comprehensive analysis of the French gaming sector’s economic health, employment trends, and production landscape.
- The French video game industry is overwhelmingly independent, with 93% of studios operating independently and 56% of development studios being less than five years old.
- In 2018, the sector had 1,200 games in active development, with two-thirds of these projects representing new intellectual properties.
- Public funding is a critical pillar of the industry, with 62% of studios utilizing regional, national, or European financial support mechanisms.
How to make your esports game media friendly
Esports serves as a powerful marketing and media vehicle for video game developers, offering a unique opportunity to generate organic coverage and reach large, engaged audiences.
- To ensure media friendliness, developers must prioritize a robust spectator mode, high-level skill requirements, and a clear visual language that allows viewers to easily follow the action.
- Maintaining competitive integrity is essential, requiring rigorous anti-cheating systems and the total avoidance of pay-to-win mechanics to ensure fair play.
- Developers should integrate real-time data and statistics into their games to enable casters and analysts to provide professional-grade coverage similar to traditional sports.
Essential Video Game News: France (October 2017)
The French video game industry demonstrated robust economic health in 2016, achieving a total turnover of €3.46 billion.
- The French video game industry achieved a total turnover of €3.46 billion in 2016, representing a 4% annual growth rate.
- Women comprise 47% of the French gaming population, yet they represent only 15% of the industry's professional workforce.
- The Women in Games France initiative is actively working to address the gender employment gap through professional development, networking, and technical workshops.
Stillfront Group Q2 2017 Presentation
Stillfront Group, a developer and publisher of free-to-play strategy games, aims to become a leading group of independent studios by combining the agility of small indie developers with the stability of a professional public structure.
- Stillfront Group achieved 37.3 million SEK in net revenue for Q2 2017, marking a 24% increase over the previous quarter.
- The company maintains a rolling 12-month EBITDA of 31 million SEK, with operational profitability consistently between 25% and 35%.
- Mobile platforms now account for 46% of run-rate revenues, contributing to a 53% CAGR recorded between 2012 and 2016.
Essential Video Game News: Market, Consumption, Use 2017
The French video game industry reached a significant milestone in 2017, solidifying its status as a cornerstone of mainstream leisure.
- The French video game market reached a valuation of 3.46 billion euros in 2016, followed by a 14% growth rate in early 2017.
- Gaming has achieved mass-market status in France, with 52% of the population identifying as regular gamers and an average player age exceeding 30.
- Digital platforms account for 58% of game transactions, while physical retail remains the dominant channel for families and younger demographics.
Itinéraires du jeu vidéo: 2017
The video game industry has undergone a profound transformation since its inception in the 1950s and 1960s, evolving from a niche academic curiosity into a dominant pillar of global culture.
- By 2017, the video game industry successfully transitioned from a stigmatized niche hobby into a dominant pillar of global culture comparable to film and literature.
- The industry has shed its adolescent-focused reputation by shifting toward mature, emotion-driven storytelling and professionalizing e-sports.
- Technological democratization, increased online connectivity, and the entry of major technology conglomerates have transformed gaming into a cross-generational activity.
Essential Video Game News: Market, Consumption, Uses (October 2016)
The French video game industry underwent a period of significant expansion during the mid-2010s, solidifying its position as a cornerstone of the national cultural economy.
- By 2016, the French video game market reached a valuation of 3.4 billion euros following a decade of consistent growth.
- The gamer population expanded to include 70 percent of the French public, with the average player age surpassing 30 and gender parity becoming a defining demographic characteristic.
- The industry established a formal professional framework for competitive gaming through the creation of the France eSports association.