Tag: game industry

Mobile games aid the resurgence of UK game industry

| March 21, 2013

Mobile Games UKUK game industry sees promising growth with the help of mobile games

The game industry in the United Kingdom is on the rise, according to a new report from Games Investor Consulting, a business intelligence firm focused on the game industry. Gaming continues to gain momentum all over the world as games become more accepted in modern society. In the past, games were considered a very niche market and those that played games where shunned in some communities. Now, however, nearly everyone with a mobile device plays mobile games, and gaming has become a prominent part of many cultures around the world.

Gaming is gaining more acceptance in society

Gaming becoming more accepted around the world has very positive implications for the game industry, of course. According to the report from Games Investor Consulting, the game industry in the UK is showing promising growth. In terms of employment, the industry grew by 4% in 2012, ending a three-year employment decline. The number of game development studios in the UK grew from 329 to 448 last year. Many of these studios have a strong focus on mobile games, which have become a very important interest for the game industry as a whole.

Mobile games help boost performance of UK industry

The report notes that investments in game studios rose from $620 million in 2011 to $650 million in 2012. Investors are showing support for studios that have been making mobile games. These games have become a formidable force in the game industry because of their appeal to consumers. Many people are tethered to their mobile devices and have turned to mobile games to fill out portions of their day. Many of these games are free, which is part of their attraction, but they also offer additional services for a fee. Mobile games are also very strong advertising tools, with consumers constantly being exposed to advertisements as they play these games.

Games Tax Relief initiative may add further momentum to game industry growth

The UK’s game industry is expected to continue growing partly because of mobile games, but these games are not the sole contributing factor to this expected growth. The UK government is currently preparing to launch the Games Tax Relief initiative, which is expected to be enacted in April of this year. The initiative will provide game development studios with tax breaks, offering financial relief to several companies, both large and small, throughout the country.

Mobile games may soon dominate the game industry

| March 19, 2013

Mobile games versus consolesMobile games picking up the slack of conventional consoles

The game industry in the U.S. is facing a slump, according to a study from the NPD Group. According to the market research and analysis firm, the trend of declining hardware, software, and accessories sales in the U.S. persists, sending ripples throughout the game industry. The study suggests that consumers are beginning to move away from conventional gaming systems, such as consoles, and have been more inclined to participate in mobile games. Much of the money that seems to be exiting the game industry, on the consumer level, seems to making its way to these mobile games rather than traditional gaming media.

Console and software sales are down in the US

NPD Group notes that total sales of hardware, software, and accessories in the U.S. game market were $810 million in February of this year. This is a decline from the $1.09 billion that the game industry had seen in the U.S. market only a year previous. Hardware sales, in particular, have dropped 36% over the past 12 months, despite the launch of new gaming systems, such as the Nintendo Wii and the Playstation Vita. Where consumers are no longer purchasing physical products, they are spending money on mobile games.

Mobile games and digital distribution eclipse hardware sales

Mobile games have come to account for a significant portion of the revenue being generated within the game industry. According to the NPD Group, mobile games, as well as digital distribution platforms and subscription services, now account for $1.2 billion in sales within the game industry. Several large publishers, like Electronic Arts, have seen significant success through digital distribution, as is the case with Dead Space 3. Mobile games, in particular, continue to generate a great deal of revenue for their developers and the publishers of these games.

Game industry begins to take mobile more seriously

Mobile games are expected to continue playing a large role in the U.S. game industry. They may one day come to dominate the industry as consumers continue to favor digital distribution and mobile gaming applications over conventional consoles and physical products. Many companies within the game industry have taken note of this trend and have been focusing much of their efforts on supporting mobile games so as to solidify their continued presence in their given market.