After two editions canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Paris Games Week returns to the Port of Versailles from Wednesday. Aimed at consumers as the strategic Christmas period approaches, this annual video game fair returns to a lighter format with one exhibition hall instead of three in 2019.We have been cautious. When we decided to organize the show six months ago, we didn’t know if the restrictions related to Covid would return or not. Financial risk should be minimized,” explains Nicolas Vignolles, chief delegate of the Society of Entertainment Software Publishers (SELL).
That the week of the Paris Games is returning after a three-year absence was not obvious. “With the Covid crisis and the shutdown of trade fairs, video game players have learned to communicate with their fans in a different way. A question has arisen about the relevance of a physical event in 2022“, – recognizes Ina Gelbert, director of Xbox France. “But the big bands have realized the importance of our show as Christmas approaches. This also allows them, post-Covid, to reconnect with players.– continues Nicolas Viñoles.
This will be the first time that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will be able to make available to the French public hundreds of test terminals for their PlayStation 5, Xbox Series and Switch Oled consoles released in 2020 and 2021. “We got to showcase our consoles, and more importantly, our Game Pass subscription“, – notes Ina Gilbert. So the Xbox stand will be oriented towards this strategic offer from Microsoft, which allows unlimited play on the Xbox console and PC, but also streams to Samsung smartphones and connected TVs. “We need to show the public the richness of this service“, he continues. And a controller in hand is often better than a long speech.
Paris Games Week opens its doors at a time when the video game market is subdued. While the Covid crisis has led to a skyrocketing growth in video game purchases in 2020, it has also disrupted the work of development studios. Many games scheduled for 2022 have therefore had to be postponed to next year. In addition to this shortened release schedule, there is a constant shortage of new generation consoles.
“The PlayStation 5 remains a victim of its own success. We continue to have waiting lists and sell outTwo years after the launch of this console, says Fnac-Darty director of games Charlotte Masico. “The market in general is not in the best dynamics. Consumers are willing to treat themselves, but not necessarily able toadds Laurent Bouchard, director of Micromania. The year 2021 had such a description. In France, it was reflected by a modest increase of 1.6 percent to 5.6 billion euros. Console game sales fell by 6%.
The first signs of 2022 are not positive. Many of the major players in the market announce a decrease in turnover. The United States expects a 9% market decline for the full year. French market data remains confidential. “Late October trends don’t mean much“, – Nintendo France director Philippe Lavoie laments. “ The heart of the season is upon us“.
However, at the end of the year, the unknown prevails. Will inflation and the crisis of purchasing power have an impact on the video game market? Sony has raised the price of its PlayStation 5 console from €500 to €550, which is unheard of in this industry. The price of blockbusters increases by an average of 10 euros, and for some new releases the maximum price is 80 euros, such as annual sagas. FIFA and: on duty.
These price increases did not frighten the consumers. “In Micromania, these launches are much higher than last year”, reveals Laurent Bouchard. “Consumers will again focus on certain values. Good content will selladds Philippe Lavoie. The pre-order volume of the new saga opus Pokemon, on sale in two weeks, would be a good thing. Nintendo, however, is keeping a cool head. “Years go by and look like successive crises: yellow vests, Covid, war in Ukraine… Everything is unpredictable, but the industry has always been able to cope. Video games are a very resilient market.»
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.