In the United Arab Emirates, the popularity of console gaming reached a new level with the launch of much-awaited new static consoles by Sony and Microsoft in late 2020. The impact of pandemic-induced home seclusion fuelled sales of both video games hardware and software, particularly PlayStation 5 by Sony and Xbox Series by Microsoft in 2021.
Mobile games continued to record dynamic double-digit current value growth in 2021. Mobile games have become one of the most accessible forms of entertainment and relaxation for consumers in the United Arab Emirates due to their easy accessibility and availability along with an easy engaging interface.
Video games hardware and physical video games software experienced much higher penetration of e-commerce in 2020 and 2021 compared to traditional toys and games in the United Arab Emirates. However, when non-essential stores reopened and the desire for social interaction combined with an easing of restrictions, e-commerce lost some growth momentum.
Video games software is expected to record a positive performance over the forecast period, driven by further dynamic growth of the digital format. Greater interest in at-home entertainment and the social aspect of online gaming that many embraced during 2020 and part of 2021 will remain strong growth drivers over the forecast period.
Despite being the dominant format of video games hardware in the United Arab Emirates, static consoles is predicted to record a more subdued performance over the forecast period compared to hand-held consoles. Within console games, physical games will remain more popular than digital options.
Demand for AR/VR headsets is limited in the United Arab Emirates. However, sales of AR/VR headsets continued to increase in 2021 and are expected to see further growth over the forecast period.
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Video Games
This is the aggregation of video games hardware and video games software. Electronic/computerised educational toys such as Speak & Spell and LeapFrog are excluded from video games and included under pre-school. Video gaming population refers to the population that played a game at least once in the last 6 months on any covered platform. This includes players who have not spent any money on game purchases or in-game content purchases.
See All of Our DefinitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Video Games research and analysis database.
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