Australia's Booming Video Game Industry: A Look at the Numbers

The Australian video game industry has experienced significant growth over the past six years, with the market more than doubling in size and achieving substantial revenue growth in 2022. As part of our Australia Games Week coverage, we analyzed reports from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) to gain insights into the local market's performance. Key statistics include a total market value of AU$4.21 billion, mobile revenue of AU$1.56 billion, digital revenue of AU$1.5 billion, and traditional retail revenue of AU$1.15 billion. The IGEA reported a 5% year-on-year increase in total market value, driven by the mobile sector, which accounted for AU$1.56 billion. Digital revenues also saw impressive growth, with AU$499 million from full game purchases and AU$750 million from in-game transactions. Meanwhile, traditional retail experienced a boost due to improved console supply and a strong lineup of game releases, resulting in full game software sales of AU$412 million and hardware sales of AU$607 million. The IGEA report highlighted the thriving Australian video game market, with IGEA CEO Ron Curry stating that the industry's stability is evident in its consistent sales performance across various channels. Curry also noted that Australians' love for video games has contributed to the industry's growth, with the added benefit of a strong retail and distribution base enabling the development of a substantial video game development industry. The report revealed that revenue generated by Australian developers increased by 26% to AU$284 million, with the number of full-time employees growing by 59% to 2,104. The Australian video game development scene has seen revenues rise by 148% since 2016, according to the IGEA's annual Australian Game Development Survey. The industry's growth is expected to continue, with 69% of Australian studios planning to hire over 300 staff in 2023. A study by the IGEA and Bond University found that 81% of Australians play video games, with 94% of households having at least one device used for gaming. The study also revealed that 48% of all Australian players are women, and the average age of players is 35 years, with an average playtime of 90 minutes per day.