UK online game gross sales have fallen virtually 30 p.c within the first half of 2024.
In response to ERA – the UK commerce physique representing digital providers and retailers providing music, video, and video games – music income was up 7.9 p.c year-on-year (YoY), „considerably outpacing“ video and video games, which noticed a 5.4 p.c rise and a 29.4 p.c fall YoY respectively.
Video video games nonetheless proceed to make extra income general, nonetheless, producing £348.6m regardless of the numerous year-on-year drop.
ERA reviews that bodily video games software program gross sales had been £111.7m down 40 p.c when in comparison with the identical interval in 2023, and digital downloads down 23 p.c to £236.9m, which it opines is on account of „a tender new launch schedule“.
Whereas music’s £163.8m is inclusive of vinyl, CD, and obtain gross sales, it excludes income from streaming platforms like Spotify, which additionally noticed a 11 p.c increase YoY.
Video generates £213.7m, regardless of a 4.7 p.c decline in DVD and Blu-ray gross sales, though that quantity doesn’t embody video streaming providers resembling Netflix.
„This can be a hanging end result for music, pushed most notably by Taylor Swift and Report Retailer Day,“ mentioned ERA CEO Kim Bayley.
„It was clear again in April the impression they’ve had on the vinyl sector, however they appear to have lifted the market as an entire too.
„It was a tricky first half for the video games enterprise with a scarcity of heavy-hitting releases, however we’re optimistic for a powerful second half, the standard time for blockbuster releases.“