Video Games in Spain

PROSPECTS

Consoles decline as Nintendo Switch cannibalises other brands and hand-held formats

After a strong, but bumpy, ride over the review period, static consoles returned to growth in 2017 after the successful launch of Nintendo Switch. The category, however, again recorded an overall retail value decline in 2018 as PlayStation4 and Xbox One suffered steep declines in sales.

Digital to continue to drive video games software

Within video games software, digital continued to outperform in 2018, with the increasing popularity of E-Sports and multiplatform formats. The physical format is still appreciated within console games as it provides independence from servers and internet connections, although its popularity continued to decline in 2018.

Google enters video games to entice a new audience

The evolution of gaming platforms towards streaming and sharing experiences is also an important factor, with Twitch Prime, owned by Amazon, becoming a popular streaming service.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Top four players retain their positions despite losing share

Sony Computer Entertainment España retained its leading position in video games in 2018, followed by Nintendo Ibérica, Electronic Arts España and Activision Blizzard Spain, with all four retaining their positions from the previous year. However, each lost retail value share to varying degrees over the year as games such as Fortnite (Epic Games), Red Dead Redemption (Take-Two Interactive Software) and others all took share as gaming fashions continued to develop.

The Spanish gaming industry remains dynamic

Spain continues to witness a prolific expansion of its video games industry and in particular of developers. Game developer studies are spreading across the country thanks to the government’s investment in creating video games-orientated education routes and the strong support offered by the trade association.

Piracy remains an issue

Piracy remains an issue in Spain. According to Obseratorio de la Piratería in 2017 piracy reached a value of EUR5.

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