Brazilian Gaming Industry by the Numbers

As we launch Brazil Games Week, our goal is to provide a detailed snapshot of the Brazilian gaming ecosystem. James Batchelor from GamesIndustry.biz traveled to Brazil earlier this year and shared his insights on the market, its challenges, and opportunities, directly from industry professionals. Meanwhile, we will examine the statistics that define the Brazilian gaming industry, its market, and audience. The data presented below is based on the second national survey of the gaming industry by the Brazilian Association of Digital Game Developers and the Brazilian Agency for Promotion of Exports and Investments, which considered 2022 data and new figures gathered in 2023. A total of 343 companies participated in the Game Brasil Survey, representing about 33% of the total number of studios in Brazil. Compared to previous surveys, this new research reveals significant growth across the board for the Brazilian industry. The gaming industry in Brazil is primarily composed of micro and small studios, totaling 1,042 developers. Between 2020 and 2022, 2,600 games were developed in Brazil, with 1,009 launched in 2022 alone, marking a 12% year-over-year increase. Since the first survey in 2014, the number of studios has grown from 133 to 1,042, showcasing a 177% increase. As of last year, the Brazilian gaming industry employed 13,225 professionals, a 6.3% increase from 2022. Men dominate the industry, accounting for 74.2% of the workforce, while the number of women decreased from 29.8% to 24.3% between 2022 and 2023. The survey notes that 93% of Brazilian studios are working on their own intellectual property. According to Rodrigo Terra, president of Abragames, "Our studios' projects are now on par with those of similar size from other parts of the world, with the main difference being investment, not capacity." The survey also reveals that 70% of Brazilian studios operate remotely, while 16% opt for a hybrid system, and only 14% work in an office setting. In terms of technology, 80% of respondents use Unity to develop their games, followed by Unreal Engine at 25%. The Game Brasil Survey estimates that the revenue from the gaming industry in Brazil reached $251.6 million in 2023. Mobile gaming accounts for 51.7% of the Brazilian market, followed by console at 20.5% and PC at 19.4%. However, when looking at games developed in Brazil, only 24% are for mobile, slightly behind PC games at 24.9%. Digital sales in Brazil have increased from 54% in 2021 to 62% in 2023. Entertainment titles dominate the Brazilian gaming market, accounting for 83% of all games developed, followed by educational games at 8% and advergames at 3%. Many Brazilian studios offer work-for-hire services for overseas developers, with the rest of Latin America and the United States being the most prominent commercial partners. Western Europe is also on the rise, with 54% of Brazilian game studios now doing business with the region. Brazil is the largest gaming market in Latin America and the fifth biggest globally, with an estimated 103 million players. According to the survey, 82.1% of Brazilians consider playing video games as one of their main forms of entertainment. Women represent 46.2% of players in Brazil, while men account for 53.8%. The dominant age group is between 25 and 29 years old, representing 16.2% of players, followed closely by 30 to 34 years old at 16.1%. The survey notes a slight increase in the over-50 age group, representing 8.5% of the Brazilian audience. A significant portion of players in Brazil identify as white or mixed race, with 42.2% and 41.4% respectively. Looking ahead, Rodrigo Terra is optimistic about Brazil's momentum, stating, "We are going through a new moment, with a post-pandemic reorganization of companies and relative market expectations. However, there are prospects for improvement in the Brazilian economy, supported by a more stable political environment, contrasting with the instability of the global market. We believe in a future with potential opportunities and challenges, where Brazil can stand out with a growing and diversifying ecosystem."