Summary

The Italian video game market has shown considerable growth, particularly pronounced during the initial pandemic years, with a significant increase in market value by 21.8%. By 2022, the market maintained a stable value range between 2.18 billion to 2.24 billion euros. In terms of demand, while spending on software rose to 1.79 billion euros. Digital formats dominated software sales at 42.3%, particularly on PCs and consoles, while hours played per week rose by 12.7% from 2018 to 7.52 hours in 2022. The Italian video game market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5% from 2022 to 2028, potentially exceeding a total value of 31 billion euros.

The market's structure also expanded, with an increase in video game development enterprises from 100 in 2014 to 160 in 2021 and employees rising to 1,600 in the same period. Major Italian companies in the sector include Milestone, Reply s.p.a, and several others, contributing to a diverse and expanding gaming ecosystem in the country.

Dynamics of Video Game Consumption in Italy

In recent years, the Italian video game market has exhibited noteworthy trends in consumer behavior and preferences. Between 2018 and 2022, Italians' spending on software experienced significant growth, marking an increase of about 30%, with spendings ranging from nearly €1.35 billion to over €1.75 billion. Notably, the App format saw the most substantial growth, skyrocketing by almost 70%, whereas the digital segment for PCs and consoles also enjoyed an uptick of nearly 30%. Conversely, the physical format witnessed a decline of around 17% over the same period. Despite the surge in spending, the number of video gamers in Italy indicates a slight decline, falling from roughly 16 million gamers in 2018 to about 14 million in 2022, marking a decrease of around 13%. Nevertheless, there was a positive trend, with an increase of approximately 2.5%, but the decline appears concentrated between 2020 and 2022 with a significant dip of almost 15%. Turning to the weekly gaming hours, a rise of around 13% was observed from 2018 to 2022, with gamers playing from around 6.5 hours to over 7.5 hours per week.

However, this trend was not consistent, as there was a significant boost of nearly 30% between 2018 and 2021, followed by an unexpected drop of around 13% between 2021 and 2022. In terms of demographics, teenagers and baby boomers represent the key age groups that constitute nearly half of the gaming population, each group accounting for around 3.5 million video gamers. Behind them, the 25-34 and 35-44 age cohorts each make up between 1.5 and 2.5 million gamers, while the younder age segments, ranging from 6 to 14 years old, constitute around 1.5 to 1.75 million gamers. Gender distribution shows a historical trend where men represent the majority of the video gaming demographic, accounting for nearly 60% in 2022. Notably, there's been a slight decline in the proportion of female gamers over the past few years, with a decrease of about 4 percentage points from 2018 to 2022. When examining preferences, mobile devices emerge as the favored gaming platforms, capturing nearly 70% of the gaming population.

Prominent Italian Video Game Industry Players

The Italian video game industry is marked by the presence of some innovative and influential companies that have carved out their niches in a competitive global market. Through a combination of creative prowess and technical expertise, these enterprises are heralding a new era in Italian gaming. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key players who are shaping the landscape of Italian video game development and publishing.

Milestone s.r.l Based in Milan and founded in 1994, Milestone s.r.l has a rich history that began with notable titles such as "Screamer." The company is revered for its expertise in racing video games, having developed licensed series like SBK and MotoGP. Milestone started its independent publishing journey in 2012 and has since introduced acclaimed IPs like RIDE.
Reply Games Studios Part of the Reply Group, Reply Games Studios was established in Milan in 2011. The studio’s focus is on crafting AA-quality video games that cater to next-generation PCs and consoles. They are known for delivering high-quality gaming experiences enriched by engaging narratives and intricate gameplay.
Nacon Studio Milan s.r.l Nacon Studio Milan, formerly known as Lunar Great Wall Studios, is a relative newcomer, starting in 2016. Their collaboration with Nacon, especially with the successful "RiMS Racing" game, led to their acquisition and rebranding. The studio aims to create unforgettable gaming experiences with state-of-the-art technology.
Kunos Simulazioni s.r.l Kunos Simulazioni, which began in 2005, specializes in developing highly realistic driving simulations for both video games and professional applications. The studio is particularly recognized for "Assetto Corsa," one of the most respected racing simulation games in the industry.
505 Games s.p.a Founded in 2006 and operating as a subsidiary of Digital Bros, 505 Games s.p.a has been successful with games such as Cooking Mama and Zumba Fitness. The company publishes a diverse range of games to entertain gamers of all ages and skills across a variety of platforms.
Digital Bros s.p.a With its roots dating back to 1989, Digital Bros s.p.a is a global entity involved in the digital entertainment sphere with a broad international presence. The company is in the business of creating, developing, and distributing video games digital and retail channels on a worldwide scale, operating in both Premium and Free to Play segments.

The videogames market - Italy

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Last update : 10/11/2023

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Summary and extracts

1 Synthèse du marché

1.1 Introduction

The video game market in Italy is a fast-growing sector that encompasses the production, distribution, and enjoyment of interactive electronic games on various platforms, such as consoles, PCs, mobile devices, and online.

It includes a wide range of products and services, including:

Console Games: Games designed to be played on game consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
Games forPC: Games designed to be played on personal computers.
Games formobile devices: Games specially developed for smartphones and tablets.
Online games: Games that can be played through Internet connections, often with a multiplayer component.
Streamingservices: Streaming platforms that allow users to stream games without having to download or physically own them.

The Italian video game market is growing rapidly, with new emerging players trying to bring luster to the industry in our country. Italy has been considered a country with a limited presence and a less developed video game culture. However, in recent years, successful software houses such as Milestone and Kunos Simulazioni have emerged, helping to change this perception. The Italian video game market began to take off in the 1990s, with popular games such as those about soccer. In the following years, the evolution of technologies and the entry of new consoles opened up new opportunities for Italian software houses. Today, the Italian video game market continues to grow and gain a space in the global industry, with promising prospects for the future.

The global video game market size has been estimated at $195.65 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 12.9 percent from 2022 to 2030.

This study analyzes the economic and structural characteristics of the Italian video game market as a whole; for more in-depth information on any of the various subsectors of which it is composed, or on complementary markets such as e-sports, please refer to the specific studies available in the Businesscoot catalog.

2 Analyse de la demande

3 Structure du marché

4 Analyse de l'offre

5 Règlementation

6 Positionnement des acteurs

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Latest news

Microsoft's $70 billion takeover of Activision: the trial of the century - 02/07/2023

Microsoft wanted to buy Activision for around $70 billion.
Nearly forty countries, including those of the European Union, China and Japan, approved the deal.
Activision's market capitalization reached $65.3 billion
The FTC sued Microsoft in an attempt to block the deal.
Microsoft previously bought ZeniMax for $7.5 billion.
Development costs for high-end games such as "The Last of Us Part II" and "Horizon Forbidden West" cost $220 million and $212 million respectively.
In some years, these high-end games accounted for up to 15% of Sony Interactive Entertainment's profits.
Sony has negotiated exclusivity for the much-anticipated "Final Fantasy XVI", which is not planned for Xbox.
Activision's mobile revenues passed the $3.5 billion mark in 2020, representing almost 50% of its total sales
Microsoft's share of the mobile gaming market is just 0.3%.

Nintendo's first mobile video game passes the billion-dollar revenue mark - 01/07/2022

Nintendo's "Fire Emblem Heroes" mobile video game generates $1 billion in sales
Nintendo focused on the operation of its latest console, the highly successful Switch
In its last annual fiscal year, Nintendo generated nearly $400 million in revenues from its mobile business
Nintendo Switch aims to surpass Wii's record sales
The Switch went on sale in early 2017, approaching 110 million units sold

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Activision Blizzard

Electronic Arts

Epic Games

Nintendo

Digital Bros s.p.a

505 Games s.p.a

Reply s.p.a

Milestone s.r.l

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