Believe it or not, downloadable games and digital content have been around for some time, starting way back in the 1980’s. It’s only been more recently that they’ve grown in popularity and convenience, mainly due to the available download speeds through most Internet providers. Even bigger titles on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 provide the option to be downloaded digitally, instead of being purchased at retail.
Gamers are really starting to pick up in game purchases digitally as well, according to a report from Kantar Worldpanel, courtesy of MCV UK. Approximately 28 percent of gamers download digital content on a regular basis, a small rise from the previous year’s numbers of 21 percent. It seems it’s picking up at a faster rate, mainly due to convenience of “getting the game” without having to make a separate trip to the store.
The market also varies in the ages of buyers, with 24 percent of new digital shoppers being over the age of 45, compared to 11 percent of already existing users. Women also seem to make up a big part of that audience, with 31 percent of new buyers compared to 13 percent of existing ones.
When it comes to format, PC continues to lead the charge over consoles. The number of PC gamers managed to jump from 43 to 65 percent between 2012 and 2013, with digital standing out as a main means to purchase games, either directly through publishers or through Valve’s Steam service. In fact, Steam actually accounts for 61 percent of all digital PC games, not too shabby of a number at all. (The flash sales that the website frequently offers doesn’t hurt either.)
Consoles aren’t too far behind, though. From 2012 to 2013, the number of users of digital games rose from 18 to 20 percent, and then leading into 2014, it jumped yet again, this time to 22 percent.
“What is remarkable is that just three big names make up a fifth of digital spend: Call of Duty: Ghosts; Skyrim and Minecraft,” said Jules Williams of Kantar Worldpanel. “These games have a particular appeal for new digital users as they are available across a wide number of online platforms and feature strong downloadable content.”
There’s no question that the digital market is here to stay, and with more exclusive titles on the way (like Bandai Namco’s recently released Dynasty Warriors Gundam Reborn for PlayStation 3), it’s likely to stay that way.
Source: MCV UK
