Australia's Thriving Gaming Industry: A Statistical Overview

The Australian gaming industry has experienced significant growth over the past six years, with a notable increase in revenue in 2022. According to reports from the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA), the total market value reached AU$4.21 billion, representing a 5% year-on-year increase. Mobile revenue accounted for AU$1.56 billion, while digital revenue totaled AU$1.5 billion, with a 6% increase. Traditional retail revenue also saw a 7% growth, reaching AU$1.15 billion. The biggest contributor to the market was mobile, with AU$1.56 billion in revenue, followed by digital revenue, which included AU$499 million from full game purchases and AU$750 million from in-game transactions. The IGEA also reported a 55% increase in subscription revenues. The traditional retail sector experienced a boost due to improved supply for consoles and a solid year of game releases, with full game software sales reaching AU$412 million and hardware sales totaling AU$607 million. The IGEA's report highlighted the growth of the Australian video game market, driven by new software releases and improved hardware availability. The retail software market experienced a 10% growth in value spend, with new releases driving software sales rather than back catalog titles. IGEA CEO Ron Curry noted that the consistent performance of sales across games channels and the strong retail and distribution base are indicators of the industry's stability. Australians' love for video games is evident, with 81% of households having at least one device used for gaming, and 76% having two or more devices. Consoles were the most popular devices, followed by smartphones, PCs, tablets, and dedicated handhelds. The study also found that 48% of players are women, and over 55, more women play video games than men. The average age of players is 35, with an average playtime of 90 minutes per day. The average gamer has been playing for 11 years or more, and 75% of respondents play games with others. Parents implement rules and restrictions on their children's gaming, such as time limits and online play. TV remains the preferred entertainment medium, but video games are ranked in joint second with music, movies, social media, and YouTube. The Australian game development industry has also seen significant growth, with revenues rising by 148% since 2016. The industry has more than doubled in size over the past six years, with 69% of studios planning to hire new staff in 2023. Most studios are between six and nine years old, with 28% operating for ten or more years. The remaining quarter are less than five years old, and have contributed to the fact that over 80% of developers have shipped at least one game.