TIGA, the trade association representing theUK games industry, said a new report suggesting the retail PC market was in
steep decline was indicative of changing consumer habits towards digital
distribution.
TIGA believes fresh figures put out in a
forecast on the electronic media and entertainment industry by
PricewaterhouseCooper showed the importance of UK industry in adopting direct
routes to publishing via the internet and says the take-up of digital downloads
is great for small to medium sized
developers.
According to the report, the online games
market in North America is set to be worth $3.9 billion by 2016 compared to the
forecast figure of $2.8bn this year.
The console and handheld market is set for
smaller growth, from $9.5bn to $10.6bn while the PC market is set for decline
from $502m this year to $434m.
The wireless games market in the United
States of America is forecast to grow from $1.1 bn this year to $1.3bn in 2016.
Dr Richard Wilson, CEO of TIGA, said:
“The indication from
our members is that 47 per cent of UK games developers self-publish games.
Digital distribution on platforms such as Steam, the App Store, Google Play, PSN,
Xbox Live and WiiWare have made it second nature for consumers to download
games direct rather than visit a retailer.
“TIGA believes – and
the figures in America seem to back us up – that this is the future of gaming
and that developers who still rely on traditional routes to market must change
with the times. The UK industry is geared up for self-publishing, with more and
more developers going it alone and decided on producing games for digital
distribution channels.”
Jason Kingsley, TIGA Chairman and CEO and
Creative Director at Rebellion, said:
“Self-publishing is
an exciting area filled with challenges, risks but great opportunities.
Developers can increasingly seize control over their own destiny.
Self-publishing gives developers more freedom to be creative with content and
business models, ultimately driving the industry in the UK forward whilst
cementing its reputation for producing innovative products.”
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s
games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games
developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games
publishers, outsourcing companies, technology
businesses and universities amongst our membership. Since 2010, TIGA has won 11 business awards and has been nominated a
finalist for 9 other awards. In 2010 TIGA won two business awards including
‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the Trade Association Forum.
In 2011, TIGA
won eight business awards including ‘Trade Association of the Year’ from the
Trade Association Forum, ‘Outstanding Organisation’ from the Chartered
Management Institute and two Global Business Excellence Awards, including
‘Outstanding Marketing Campaign’.
Richard Wilson won the ‘Leadership Award’ from the Trade Association
Forum and the ‘Outstanding Leader’ award from the Chartered Management
Institute. In 2012, Richard Wilson won the IoD’s East of England Director of the Year Award. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA's vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do
games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political
representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance
the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are
effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the
media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their
businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial
opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard
Wilson, TIGA CEO on: 07875 939 643, or email richard.wilson@tiga.org.