Before the health crisis, the video game market was already experiencing constant expansion. Driven by technological innovations, live streaming, and the rise of e-sports, the gaming market was thriving.
With the arrival of Covid and lockdowns, video game sales exploded. Sales of gaming consoles, online game downloads, and subscriptions to gaming services reached record levels.
Multiplayer games were in high demand, and virtual communities were highly popular during lockdowns.
Gaming console manufacturers also adjusted their strategies to meet evolving consumer needs. The release of next-gen consoles (Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X) marked a new era of cutting-edge graphics, reduced loading times, and an even more immersive gaming experience. The new generation consoles achieved overwhelming success despite challenges related to production and stock availability.
E-sports also thrived during the pandemic, benefiting from the cancellation of many traditional sports events. To satisfy their competitive spirit, consumers turned to online competitions. Major tournaments attracted unexpected audiences, and sponsors flocked in, recognizing the commercial potential of e-sports.
Thus, 2020 was a notable year for the gaming world. The pandemic’s effect is evident: between 2019 and 2022, the sector’s growth tripled in percentage, returning to pre-Covid figures a year later.
This trend is confirmed across all analyzed countries, except in Germany, where the growth was less significant during the health crisis, but the decline was much slower than in other countries.