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GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year In Numbers 2024

Tis the season to be jolly pouring over pie charts, bar graphs, tables and any other statistics we can throw at you.

www.gamesindustry.biz

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

I really hate the look of the Physical/digital split chart.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

where is the Vailguard?

 

[bender]

I really hate the look of the Physical/digital split chart.

It probably looks worse than it is as I'm guessing this split isn't just for games that have the option for physical or digital.

 

[adamsapple]

I really hate the look of the Physical/digital split chart.

What even is the 1% physical PC box stuff, I wonder.

 

[SJRB]

I really hate the look of the Physical/digital split chart.

The last spasms of a dying format.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Monopoly Go! Wow.

It's amazing how big mobile gaming is. Since Gaf almost never talks about those games, it's crazy how much sales the mobile charts show from devs and games most of us have probably never heard of.

 

[Topher]

What even is the 1% physical PC box stuff, I wonder.

Stuff like this...

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/farming-simulator-25-windows/6588264.p?skuId=6588264

 

[StreetsofBeige]

What even is the 1% physical PC box stuff, I wonder.

Probably COD and Sims still selling boxes with codes in them.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Physical pc games?

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

What even is the 1% physical PC box stuff, I wonder.

I bought a physical copy of Ancient Aliens on PC this year on clearance at Walmart. I'm the 1%.

 

[adamsapple]

I bought a physical copy of Ancient Aliens on PC this year on clearance at Walmart. I'm the 1%.

 

[Mr Moose]

[retail only] does that mean physical only for the UK and Japan?

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

The last spasms of a dying format.

I can't hear you, my ears are stuffed full of old compact discs and cartridges.

 

[Success]

Great lists, thanks for sharing Adam.

 

[Unknown?]

The last spasms of a dying format.

And the corporate jizzing of charging the same price as 5 years ago.

 

[adamsapple]

[retail only] does that mean physical only for the UK and Japan?

I believe digital storefront sales are also counted as retail, at least that's what this link says.

Sales of digital products to consumers are also retail sales.

Retail sales tax | Washington Department of Revenue

dor.wa.gov

* Not sure if this is everywhere or just WA tho.

 

[Mr Moose]

I believe digital storefront sales are also counted as retail, at least that's what this link says.

Retail sales tax | Washington Department of Revenue

dor.wa.gov

* Not sure if this is everywhere or just WA tho.

I think GfK and Famitsu only report physical, with GSD being the one that does digital in UK. Going to do some snooping to try and find out.

 

[amigastar]

College Football in US, European Football in UK on number one. Seems about right.

 

[TGO]

It probably looks worse than it is as I'm guessing this split isn't just for games that have the option for physical or digital.

Yeah it's very deceiving, but I'm sure publishers don't like seeing the PS5 Disc Drive in so high demand as it paints the real picture.
The fact that Amazon UK has 5k / 20k sells per title on PS5 games in the last month shows you the reality.

 

[bitbydeath]

I really hate the look of the Physical/digital split chart.

I wouldn’t trust those numbers. Digital numbers are easy to get. Physical would be at best an estimate.

 

[ReyBrujo]

Wow, digital! No wonder companies want to make the jump to cloud if fucking 99% already is digital! And I'm happy to report I know none of those youtubers influencers.

 

[Humdinger]

Incidentally, I've heard several times that "the videogame market is bigger than the movie/film market," and I decided to look it up. Turns out, that isn't true - or rather, it is only true when you restrict the category "movie/film industry" to box office ticket sales and exclude streaming services like Netflix and other channels of distribution. All told, the global film/video market is around 500 billion.

Makes me wonder if subscription services are a part of this tally. Probably not. Looks like it's just physical and digital game sales, plus microtransactions.

 

[Danny22]

Very interesting comparison if you open 2023 in numbers. Digital has only increased by 1 percent since last year for example.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Very interesting comparison if you open 2023 in numbers. Digital has only increased by 1 percent since last year for example.

There are fundamental limits to how much digital can penetrate

Also these numbers probably lump all sales of games into digital, even though games like Fortnite and Minecraft and Genshin Impact aren't available physically and those are most of the market. I would be interested in seeing the physical/digital split of ONLY games which have a physical version available to buy

 

[Three]

What even is the 1% physical PC box stuff, I wonder.

Witcher got a physical release recently for example.


Also "consoles are dying". Console market is bigger than PC market.

 

[semiconscious]

for the curious: most viewed game trailer #4: poppy playtime chapter 3:

 

[delishcaek]

I don't know 95% of the publishers and I have never heard of 90% of the games in any of these lists.

Stuff like this...

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/farming-simulator-25-windows/6588264.p?skuId=6588264

They prolly count "code in a box" releases as well because they are being sold in stores. Here in Germany we still get a couple of these. Metaphor and Stalker 2 were "code in a box" physical releases. KCD2 and Civ7 also get a release like that.

 

[Kotaro]

Elden Ring is GOAT

 

[BennyBlanco]

What even is the 1% physical PC box stuff, I wonder.

I bought a physical copy of persona 5 pc a few months ago

 

[delishcaek]

Also, whoever made that first pie chart got his data wrong. PC isn't -0.2%. Last year was $39.6Bn, or 41.5 if you combine Browser PC Games with Boxed/DL.

 

[Topher]

I don't know 95% of the publishers and I have never heard of 90% of the games in any of these lists.

They prolly count "code in a box" releases as well because they are being sold in stores. Here in Germany we still get a couple of these. Metaphor and Stalker 2 were "code in a box" physical releases. KCD2 and Civ7 also get a release like that.

Yeah, even the ones that have an actual disc have a code. Kinda pointless except for folks with poor/no internet for downloading.

 

[adamsapple]

I bought a physical copy of persona 5 pc a few months ago

On DVDs or BR-D ?

 

[BennyBlanco]

On DVDs or BR-D ?

Not my pics but it was this which was cheaper than any key site at the time on Woot. Steam code in a box with some art cards. I have to assume shit like this is counted as physical PC games.

 

[adamsapple]

Not my pics but it was this which was cheaper than any key site at the time on Woot. Steam code in a box with some art cards. I have to assume shit like this is counted as physical PC games.

Wow, they couldn't even be bothered to do a proper card for the code lol, just a CVS receipt quality paper with the game key.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Wow, they couldn't even be bothered to do a proper card for the code lol, just a CVS receipt quality paper with the game key.

I threw it all in the trash after I redeemed the code lol. It was $20 shipped which is still cheaper than the current steam sale.

 

[ReBurn]

Also, whoever made that first pie chart got his data wrong. PC isn't -0.2%. Last year was $39.6Bn, or 41.5 if you combine Browser PC Games with Boxed/DL.

What if Newzoo was wrong?

 

[delishcaek]

What if Newzoo was wrong?

Then both charts are wrong as both are from newzoo.

 

[onQ123]

I haven't really bought many physical games since the PS3/Xbox 360 days . The only disc that's then in my PS5 is Ultra HD Blu-ray movies that I found for like a $1 or $2 .


The benefits of having all your games already in the console vs having to change the disc outweigh the attachment to owning physical copies.

 

[Three]

Then both charts are wrong as both are from newzoo.

None of them are incorrect. 0.2% would be an overall 0.083B decrease. This would be explained by rounding in the 2023 chart. The actual figures could be 1.9415B and 39.6415B and you would account for the -0.2% drop.

 

[Erebus]

Looking at the charts, one question stands out: Who is really playing AAA games these days? The market seems to be dominated by mobile games and popular GaaS titles like Roblox, Fortnite, and Call of Duty.

 

[EN250]

Man, mobile has some of the trashiest scam levels of monetization is not even funny and now it's to late to try and correct that, I blame the big players joining in (those who did, those who didn't are to blame as well, but for being useless) instead of trying to mature the platform beyong P2W and IAP trash everywhere