Video games would develop into an industry worth billions, with global revenue figures expected to reach almost 135 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. In Spain, the sector generated over 1.4 billion euros from video game sales in 2018, with the most recent figures projecting even higher results for the upcoming years. Spain ranks 9th on the list of leading gaming markets, which was topped by the United States in 2019 at almost 37 billion U.S. dollars.
Most of the revenue generated on the Spanish market originated from sales of video games and consoles, with the former accounting for about 43 percent of the total sales value and the latter for approximately 42 percent in 2018. Game sales numbers also indicate that casual and social games generate more revenue than the more traditional console and PC formats, with figures reaching 766 million euros in Spain in 2018 versus 465 million for games in console formats.
Video games are popular among all age groups in Spain, but mostly among those aged 11 to 14 years, according to the latest studies. In 2018, the share of people who played video games in that age group was nearly 80 percent, closely followed by 6-10 years at 76 percent. The older the age group, the least popular video games become, with playing shares dwindling from 64 percent at age 15 to 23 percent at age 45. Amongst video game players, consoles ranked as the most popular option, with these devices being used by 24 percent of players. Additionally, the average time Spanish players spent on their games amounted to over 6 hours a week in 2018, with very similar figures in recent years according to the latest data.
Some studies point at virtual reality as the new potential popular gaming technology, with the global number of users of these digital simulation devices estimated at around 171 million and increasing revenue figures as of 2018.
