People in Aotearoa New Zealand like our games, and now we can confirm it with data. Some digging was done Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) and we spend heaps on games.
Like heaps heaps.
IGEA showed that the demand for video games in Aotearoa continues to explode according to consumer sales data. In 2021, Kiwis spent over $540 million on video games and consoles. So, like, heaps heaps.
Video game hardware sales were almost $71 million dollars, leading to strong software sales in both digital and physical formats. Kiwis are mostly purchasing products in a digital format including mobile games with sales exceeding $197 million in 2021.
Tom Wijman from Newzoo confirmed as much. He adived that New Zealand’s market for digital PC and console games grew again year on year to $225 million. The increase in the install base of the consoles and lockdown saw a spike in sales in 2021.
Apparently the global average sees mobile market toppling consoles and PC. But not here. According to Tom Wijman “The market for mobile games grew faster than any other segment. But unlike the global average, New Zealand’s PC and console markets are still larger than its mobile market.
A study of one conducted by myself confirmed, yes console and PC games are awesome.
IGEA has recently updated agreements with data suppliers sourcing consumer sales from GSD and Newzoo++. GSD reports on major publisher and hardware sales in both physical and digital format across numerous international markets, while Newzoo reports on game sales data globally. Working with IGEA members, we ensured both sources offer reliable and consistent consumer sales data from around the world that identifies global trends. Newzoo also provides subscription data which is essential when looking at how subscription services impact the way Australians are now playing games.
Aidan Sakiris, ANZ Territory Manager and Senior Analyst at GSD contributes, “Total New Zealand video game spending was in growth for 2021 driven by a sizeable increase in Hardware sales year-on-year. This was largely due to the heightened availability of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S throughout the year, but also the increasing relevance of Nintendo Switch in the New Zealand market. Software charts comprised of new releases including FIFA 22 and Far Cry 6 as the top performers, but also select titles generally being sold alongside new hardware purchases such as Spiderman: Miles Morales on PS5 as well as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.”
Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA says “New Zealanders have long had a love for playing video games and continue to embrace playing games in all formats. According to our Digital New Zealand 2022 (DNZ22) report, over 3.7 million New Zealanders play games. Games are played not only for fun and entertainment but for social connection and education with consumer sales growing accordingly. Playing games is part of every day life for the majority of Kiwis ”
An accompanying sales data infographic can be downloaded here.
About the research
Games Sales Data (GSD) is a video game sales and reporting initiative for the games industry, by the games industry. GSD report on the sales of both physical retail and digital network markets. Launched in 2017 by ISFE, GSD provides sales figures across EMEA, expanding to APAC in late 2019. Sparkers are the operators of GSD on behalf of the video games industry. For more information visit: www.sparkers.com
Newzoo Newzoo is a provider of games market data and insights. The data provided to IGEA is sourced from the Newzoo Global Games Market Report April 2022.
For more information visit: https://newzoo.com/
Digital New Zealand (DNZ22) is a report commissioned by IGEA and can be downloaded here.
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