Economic value of videogames in Belgium amounts to €600M in 2021

4% growth compared to record year 2020

FIFA22 best-selling videogame

Nintendo Switch best-selling games console

Brussels, 15 March 2022 – For the year 2021, the economic value of videogames in Belgium amounts to €600 million*, which is a slight growth of 4% compared to the record year of 2020, the first corona year in which sales increased by double digits compared to 2019. In 2020, more people played videogames to maintain social contacts and relax in their home environment during lockdowns. For the first time, this figure is announced by BelgianGames, the umbrella organization of videogame publishers, platforms and developers active in Belgium.

“We have been thorough in compiling this figure for 2021,” explains David Verbruggen, CEO of BelgianGames. “Our figure includes sales in Belgium of game consoles, console accessories, online subscriptions, streaming subscriptions, prepaid cards, physical and digital videogames as well as in-game microtransactions across all devices (pc**, consoles and mobile devices). In addition, we also added the revenue of our local game developers, whose videogames are sold in Belgium and worldwide.”

Here are a few other striking figures and trends for the year 2021

By comparison, the economic value of videogames in the Netherlands is more than €1 billion
The share of physical games (sold in physical version through physical or online shops) versus digital games (downloaded through digital stores) is again gaining some ground, presumably because physical shops were open more often in the 2nd corona year 2021 than in 2020. The share of physical is 58% vs. 42% digital.
Just like in 2020, there is a noticeable increase in digital downloads of back catalogue, videogames that have been available on the market for a longer time
The best-selling console accessory is the PlayStation 5 controller (joypad)
The VR headset Quest 2 (META Quest 2) appears in the TOP5 best-selling videogame devices, demonstrating the Belgian consumer’s growing interest in VR games and applications
Grand Theft Auto V was released in 2013 and is still in the TOP5 best-selling pc and console videogames with more than 155 million copies sold worldwide
In 2021, there were no less than 147 million mobile game downloads in Belgium on the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store combined

TOP5 best-selling pc and console videogames in Belgium in 2021

FIFA 22
Grand Theft Auto V
FIFA 21
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

TOP5 mobile games in Belgium in 2021

Pokémon GO
Brawl Stars
Candy Crush Saga
Roblox
PUBG Mobile: Aftermath

TOP5 free mobile games in Belgium in 2021

Count Masters – Stickman Clash
Roblox
Project Makeover
Bridge Race
Hair Challenge

TOP5 best-selling videogame devices** in Belgium in 2021

Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 5
Nintendo Switch Lite
Xbox Series
Quest 2 (META Quest 2)

TOP5 best-selling prepaid cards for videogames in Belgium in 2021

PlayStation Store Wallet
Nintendo eShop Card
PlayStation Plus Card
Xbox Live Gift Card
Steam Wallet

*pc and console figures (by 2021) compiled by Games Sales Data, the official tracker of the game sector, supplemented by additional data from individual companies; mobile game figures (by 2021) compiled by AppMagic; game development figures (by 2020) based on a sector wide survey

**pc hardware and accessories not included

VGFB

Video Games Federation Belgium (VGFB) is the federation representing videogame publishers and platforms in Belgium. The mission of VGFB is to support, represent and promote the game sector. VGFB is the voice of the game sector towards the government, advisory bodies and professional associations. VGFB also gives advice to its members in different areas and acts as a source of information for its members, the media and the public. VGFB is part of BelgianGames, the umbrella organization of the various videogame federations in Belgium.

Contact:

FLEGA

FLEGA is the federation of Flemish videogame developers. FLEGA supports the Flemish sector and brings together all Flemish individuals and companies active in the Flemish game sector (such as developers, service providers, educational organizations, researchers, local publishers…). FLEGA proactively defends and promotes the interests of its members. FLEGA also advises its members and encourages them to share information and knowledge. FLEGA represents its members when it comes to communication with government and other non-videogame sectors or international organizations. FLEGA is part of BelgianGames, the umbrella organization of the various videogame federations in Belgium.

Contact:

games.brussels

games.brussels is the federation of Brussels videogame developers. The mission of games.brussels is to structure, represent, defend and promote the interests of its members. games.brussels facilitates networking and access to the industry through Brotaru, our monthly event aimed at companies, individuals and students. games.brussels is part of BelgianGames, the umbrella organization of the various videogame federations in Belgium.

Contact:

WALGA

WALGA is the federation of the Walloon videogame ecosystem (companies, start-ups, schools…) and is supported by the Walloon Region. WALGA proactively promotes games, game studios, esports stakeholders, events, education and training centers from Wallonia. WALGA provides all information relevant to game development on all platforms (pc, console, mobile, VR…) as well as on serious games, gamification, game studies and esports in Wallonia and acts as a central hub. WALGA is part of BelgianGames, the umbrella organisation of the different videogame federations in Belgium.

Contact:

David Verbruggen

Almost 30 years of experience in the videogame sector: networking, sales, retail, media, marketing, development, gamification and public affairs. 12 years of experience in content marketing (custom made media): print and online. Project management, social media and conversation management, digital projects.

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Economic value of videogames in Belgium amounts to €600M in 2021

4% growth compared to record year 2020

FIFA22 best-selling videogame

Nintendo Switch best-selling games console

Here are a few other striking figures and trends for the year 2021

TOP5 best-selling pc and console videogames in Belgium in 2021

TOP5 mobile games in Belgium in 2021

TOP5 free mobile games in Belgium in 2021

TOP5 best-selling videogame devices** in Belgium in 2021

TOP5 best-selling prepaid cards for videogames in Belgium in 2021

VGFB

FLEGA

games.brussels

WALGA

David Verbruggen

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