Analysis shows that most gamers buy games for up to 20 euros. According to data published by GAMIVO, over 71% of purchases fall into this segment. Despite looking for savings, gamers don’t have to agree to lower quality.
After further analyzing the data published by GAMIVO.com, a platform for gamers, we find that the 10-20 euro segment is the most popular among gamers worldwide. As much as 25.2% of purchases fall into this category. Slightly less favored are the releases for 5 to 10 euros (23.6%) and the cheapest ones, costing no more than 5 euros (22.4%).
The number of purchases drops noticeably after crossing the 20-euro threshold. Video games from 20 to 30 euros are responsible for 12.81% of orders. The share decreases to 9% for the 30-45 euro segment. Titles over 45 euros account for only 7% of purchases.
Those statistics prove that gamers tend to pick discounted games and indie titles. There are various reasons for this trend. For instance, the increase in the price of the biggest AAA releases from 60 to 70 dollars has played a considerable role.
“Even such a high price isn’t enough to deter many gamers. As a result, we observe that the average basket value usually increases during the period of significant premieres. Playing a newly released game has a wide array of advantages because it helps avoid spoilers plaguing the web. It also lets you experience something new together with other fans. On the other hand, most new games feature annoying bugs that are eliminated until the first discount. That is why many players prefer to hold off on buying for some time. There are myriads of great video games worth playing, so postponing the purchase isn’t particularly challenging,” explains Mateusz Śmieżewski, GAMIVO’s CEO.
Players are frugal
GAMIVO also demonstrated detailed data regarding selected markets. Among them, Mexico is the country where players most often buy games under 20 euros (84%). Brazil comes second (80.7%), while Poland is third (77%). Italy stands on the opposite side of the list. 35.6% of video games bought by Italian players cost 20 euros or more. Right behind them are Germans (35.3%), Dutch (34.8%), Spanish (30.2%), and French (30%). Less than 30% of video games purchased by gamers from the USA and United Kingdom cost over 20 euros. That shows that even players from countries considered wealthy don’t mind getting discounted releases.
“The fact that players buy cheaper games doesn’t mean they pick worse titles. Video game pricing is unique compared to other media. We can find a lot of outstanding indie releases in the lower-price segments. Balatro, universally considered one of the best games of 2024, is a prime example, as its official price is 13.99 euros. Discounted AAA hits are another significant group of games under 20 euros. Besides old classics, players may get titles that dominated bestseller lists a year or two earlier,” clarifies Mateusz Śmieżewski.
It’s worth waiting
Publishers’ price policy is a substantial factor. Analysis of the most popular AAA releases from the past few years reveals that players have to wait about 100 days for the first official discount. The second usually occurs after 155 days, and the third after 198 days. Those who patiently wait for approximately 240 days can enjoy even better deals. Obviously, promotions depend on the title and the publisher’s strategy. Sometimes, games are discounted within a month after the release, and at other times, they come fairly late. Nonetheless, players may rest assured that the price of any game will finally decrease.
It’s good to be a gamer
Another important aspect affecting players’ shopping behavior is the market environment. Factors such as increasing expenses and inflation reduce the extra budget people can spend on entertainment and hobbies. However, video game enthusiasts are in a relatively fortunate situation. They aren’t forced to stop adding new titles to their virtual libraries. Even though 70-euro blockbusters may be too much of a burden for a family budget, cheaper or free releases are a reasonable choice.
The recent Newzoo report shows that free-to-play releases, including Overwatch, League of Legends, Roblox, Fortnite, and Apex Legends, are among the most played titles. Those are renowned and constantly improved games, so players can have a quality product without spending a dime. The most popular free titles are multiplayer games, so players looking for a solo experience won’t be eager to give them a shot. They can visit GAMIVO.com and other platforms that regularly offer discounts and giveaways, allowing players to get award-winning games without hurting household finances. The number of outstanding titles released every year is enormous. Consequently, finding a cheaper alternative to any new AAA blockbuster is easy.
Given all those circumstances, it’s not surprising that a vast majority of players choose to keep themselves under the 20-euro bar.
The analysis
The analysis was conducted using data from the GAMIVO technology platform. It focused on the purchasing habits of gamers who made transactions on the platform between January 1 and November 30, 2024. GAMIVO.com operates on a global scale, serving a community of 5.8 million registered customers.
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