Gaming industry in Belgium continues to grow
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Loading... - Louis Robert
- 30 May 2023
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According to recent data released by BelgianGames, a comprehensive organization representing the gaming industry in Belgium, the economic value of the country's gaming sector reached an impressive €582 million in the previous year. While there was a slight decrease compared to the industry's peak year in 2021, which was largely influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, the sector experienced growth when compared to pre-pandemic levels. Specifically, there was a 10% increase compared to 2019, although there was a 3% drop from the exceptional levels achieved in 2021.
David Verbruggen, the CEO of BelgianGames, explained the marginal decline from 2021, stating that it was an expected outcome. The sales during the years 2020 and 2021, marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, were historically high for the gaming sector due to the implementation of lockdowns and the limited availability of other forms of leisure and entertainment, such as hobbies, cinema visits, and travel.
Verbruggen attributes the growth of the gaming industry in 2022, compared to 2019, to another consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. He highlights the fact that during the pandemic, an increasing number of individuals turned to video games as a form of entertainment, leading to the expansion of the market. While the number of hours spent gaming skyrocketed during the pandemic, it has since stabilized.
In addition to the economic insights, research conducted by the industry federation provided valuable information about the gaming habits of Belgian gamers in the past year. Notably, FIFA secured two spots within the top five best-selling PC and video games, with FIFA 23 taking the first position and FIFA 22 still holding strong at fifth place.
When considering physical video game sales, excluding online platforms, the top five best-selling games comprised three Nintendo Switch exclusive titles: Pokémon Legends Arceus, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Nintendo Switch Sports. In the realm of console devices, the popularity of Xbox Series (S,X) significantly increased, moving from the fourth position to second place compared to 2021. As a result, Xbox consoles now surpass Sony's PlayStation 5 in terms of popularity in Belgium.
Furthermore, mobile gaming experienced substantial growth, with an impressive 148 million game downloads in Belgium from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This represents a one-million increase from the previous year, 2021.
To conclude, Belgium's gaming industry demonstrated its resilience and adaptability in the face of the challenges brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. While experiencing a slight decline from its exceptional year in 2021, the sector managed to achieve growth when compared to pre-pandemic levels.
The increase in gaming popularity can be attributed to the unique circumstances of the pandemic, as people sought alternative forms of entertainment during lockdowns and restrictions. With the industry continuing to evolve and capture the interest of an expanding audience, the future of the gaming sector in Belgium appears promising.
