Buying games via download is more widespread than ever before

Berlin (ots)

• New record: 60 percent of PC and console games in Germany are purchased as downloads
• The vast majority of PC games are purchased as downloads
• Console games preferably on data storage devices

For the first time in 2023, the share of PC and console games purchased as downloads in Germany rose to 60 percent. This means that download purchases of games remain at the high level they have had since the first year of Corona in 2020. Back then, the download share jumped from 45 to 58 percent. This was announced today by game – Association of the German games industry in cooperation with the market research company CPS GfK. A closer look at the individual gaming platforms, however, shows major differences between the platforms: Buying as a download is most common among PC gamers, who now purchase almost all of their games this way (98 percent) – last year the download share was already 97 percent. The situation is different when it comes to buying console games: The majority of console gamers prefer to buy games as a physical copy. At 60 percent, the majority of console games are still sold on data carriers, even if their share has fallen slightly by 3 percentage points compared to the previous year.

The way games are purchased is also a question of age. Younger gamers in Germany predominantly opt for purchasing via download, which is particularly true for gamers between the ages of 20 and 29: more than 7 out of 10 games for the PC or console (71 percent) are purchased as downloads. But more and more older gamers also prefer to download. Those aged between 50 and 59 now buy around 6 out of 10 games (59 percent) as downloads; in the previous year they bought around 53 percent of their games on disk. Buying on disk is most popular among those over 60, who will buy more than half (53 percent) of their games as physical copies in 2023. However, their purchases on disk have fallen by 12 percentage points.

“We see a clear trend: download purchases have become established among the majority of gamers and their share continues to rise, albeit not as rapidly as in the pandemic years. Not only are downloads a quick and convenient way for many to acquire games. Last year, some popular game blockbusters such as ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ or ‘Alan Wake II’ were initially released exclusively as digital versions and many successful indie titles have only been available as downloads for some time now, which is further increasing the popularity of downloads,” says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. “But how games are purchased continues to differ depending on the age of the gamer and the gaming platform. For example, gamers mainly buy their console games as physical copies in order to purchase limited editions with accompanying fan merchandise or to have the games permanently present in their own collection.”

About the market data

The market data mentioned is based on surveys by the Consumer Panel Services GfK and data.ai. CPS GfK uses survey methods to collect data on the German market for digital games that are unique worldwide and in terms of quality. These include an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers on their purchasing and usage habits for digital games, which is representative of the entire German population, as well as a retail panel. The data collection methods provide a unique insight into the German market for computer and video games.

game – Association of the German games industry

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members represent the entire games ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports organizers, educational establishments and institutions. As co-organizers of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s largest event for computer and video games. We are shareholders of the USK, the Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur, the esports player foundation, game events and the Verwertungsgesellschaft VHG, as well as sponsors of the German Computer Game Prize. As a central contact for the media, politics and society, we answer all questions about market development, games culture and media competence. Together we make Germany the heart of the games world. We enrich the lives of all people with games.