Among the 58% of French people who play video games regularly, there are 7 million seniors according to the latest annual study by SELL, the union of video game publishers., revealed on Tuesday 23 November on franceinfo and detailed here by Brice N’Guessan, editorial director of Video Games Magazine.
franceinfo: So, according to this study, there are still more of us playing video games in France?
Brice N’Guessan: Yes, the video game industry is establishing itself as a central leisure activity in French homes. The health crisis has created in some a new appetite for this entertainment. Realize: 58% of French people play video games regularly, that’s six points more than last year. If the multiple lockdowns were an opportunity to play more, the end of these restrictions has not impacted the industry. On the contrary, we are playing more than ever.
Exactly what does the typical portrait of the French player look like?
The video game confirms it year after year, it is no longer a hobby intended for the youngest. The French player is 39 years old, he mainly plays on video game consoles and he mainly favors puzzle games, platform games and adventure games. For the anecdote, know that it is in the Grand Est region that we play the most with a player rate of 78%. Finally, at a time when digitization is accelerating, 69% of respondents prefer to buy their games in physical form.
When it comes to buying physical games, what are the most popular titles?
First of all, you should know that Nintendo is the manufacturer of game consoles that shines the most. Last year in the Top 20 Best Sellers, half of the games came from the Japanese publisher. No wonder to find in the first place a Nintendo game: Animal Crossing the little life simulation, followed by the football game FIFA 21 and Mario kart 8 (still Nintendo) still in the best sales, four years after its release on the Switch console. A success that it owes above all to its user-friendliness, thanks to its multi-player mode for playing with friends or family.
Yes, because everyone plays video games!
Common ideas die hard. No, video games aren’t just for kids, and they’re not just for men. 50% of players are women, and in France there are 19 million players who prefer games on smartphones and video game consoles.
And when I tell you that everyone is playing, that also applies to seniors over 60. They are nearly 7 million in France, and it is above all on PC and smartphone that they have fun, focusing on games of reflection, sports and strategy.