The video game market in Italy experienced impressive growth in 2023, reaching a value of 2.3 billion euros with a 5% increase compared to the previous year, according to IIDEA’s “Video Games in Italy in 2023” report. With 13 million players across all gaming devices, Italy now ranks among the top five European markets in the sector.
Italian gamers are predominantly men, totaling 8 million (61%), with an average age of 30. Female gamers make up 4.9 million (38%), with an average age of 31. Additionally, there are approximately half a million people who identify as neither women nor men, a statistic reported for the first time in 2023.
Mobile devices are the most widely used by gamers in Italy, with around nine million primarily playing Brain/Puzzle, Trivia, and Role Playing/Strategy games. Consoles follow closely, with around six million gamers focusing on Sports, Racing, and Shooter genres. PCs have around five million gamers who prefer Strategy, Shooter, and Sports titles. On average, gamers in Italy play for approximately six hours per week – a decrease from the previous year likely due to resuming post-pandemic activities such as going back to school or work or socializing with friends and family.
The hardware segment of the gaming market saw significant growth in Italy in 2023 with an increase of over 60%. Hardware sales reached a value of €487 million while accessories grew by about €178 million – both increases were substantial compared to the previous year. Software remains the largest segment of the market and accounted for over €1 billion euros or about two-thirds of the total market value. New video game purchases also increased slightly by about €6%, generating revenue of €777 million that was split between physical and digital sales channels.
Several websites and platforms were highlighted for promoting and enhancing the gaming experience in Italy like Victory996 Malaysia . These platforms aim to provide safe gaming environments while offering tips and strategies for improving gaming skills.
Overall, this data provides insights into how video games continue to grow as a popular form of entertainment worldwide but also highlights some challenges such as declining engagement levels due to real-life activities resuming after pandemic restrictions were lifted
