Video Games in Canada

PRE-COVID-19 PERFORMANCE

Demand boosted by growing popularity of on-the-go gaming

Video games continues to dominate overall games and toys sales in Canada, recording double-digit current value growth in 2019, with nearly half of the Canadian population identifying as gamers. The country also boasts strong internet coverage penetration, smartphones and tablets, allowing consumers to play games on-the-go.

Growing AR/VR niche attracting hardcore gamers

As the industry looks to boost virtual reality sales, players are working towards adopting this evolving trend. Due to the experience created by the latest Pokémon Go, the trend for augmented reality also resulted in some interest among local consumers in AR/VR, with headsets in this area continuing to grow in popularity.

Nintendo gains leadership due to performance in static consoles

Video games hardware continues to experience a revival, supported by the high double-digit current value growth of static consoles. This performance can be attributed to the launch of new products towards the end of the review period, particularly Nintendo Switch, which has proven highly popular among consumers.

2020 AND BEYOND

COVID-19 impact

In 2020, sales of video games are now expected to grow by 10% in constant 2019 value terms in light of the impact of COVID-19. This represents a major rise from the 2% increase forecast in our 2019 edition of toys and games.

Affected products within video games

During the year as a whole, sales of mobile games are expected to record dynamic growth as it is cheaper to buy and play such games without spending on video games hardware. They are also quick and easy to buy as they can be obtained instantly without having to leave the home and visit a physical store, of particular significance in light of the closure of non-essential stores in Q2 2020.

Recovery and opportunities

Video games will continue to record strong growth over the forecast period, with the popularity of new consoles such as Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch continuing to attract consumers. Overall demand will also be boosted by sales of video games software, with digital games seeing increasing demand as they can be conveniently purchased and downloaded.

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