In 2023, the video game market in Italy experienced positive growth, surpassing 2.3 billion euros with a 5% increase from the previous year, according to a new report by IIDEA. This growth makes Italy one of the top five European markets in the sector, with 13 million players across various gaming devices and representing 31% of the Italian population aged 6 to 64. The majority of Italian video gamers are men, with 8 million (61%) and an average age of 30, while female gamers number 4.9 million (38%) with an average age of 31.
One interesting trend emerging in Italy is the number of individuals who identify as neither male nor female, a new figure reported for the first time in 2023. Mobile devices continue to be the most popular gaming platforms in Italy, with over nine million users playing games such as Brain/Puzzle (20%), Trivia (18%), and Role Playing/Strategy (16%). Consoles follow closely behind with over five million gamers focusing on Sports (29%), Racing (26%), and Shooter (22%) genres. PCs are used by around four and a half million gamers primarily for Strategy (19%), Shooter (16%), and Sports (14%) games.
In terms of hardware sales, there was a record-breaking year in Italy in 2023 due to the availability of new consoles. Hardware sales reached an estimated value of nearly half a billion euros, up almost seven times annually. Accessories also saw growth, with sales up around forty-six percent to one hundred seventy-eight million euros. Despite an overall decline by eight percent, software remains the largest segment in the Italian gaming market and is valued at just over one point six billion euros or around seventy-one percent of the total market value. New game purchases increased by six percent from last year’s total revenue reaching almost three quarters of a billion euros or around forty-six percent from physical sales and fifty-four percent from digital channels respectively.
Italian video game enthusiasts are not only avid players but also contribute significantly to their country’s economy through hardware and software purchases. With this positive outlook for future years ahead it is clear that video games will continue to play an important role in shaping entertainment culture across Europe.
Overall, this report highlights that despite pandemic trends towards less physical engagement video games continue to thrive both economically and culturally in Italy providing valuable insights into how technology has influenced our daily lives during these challenging times
