We've already covered most of the facts revealed by the ESA's report on the essential facts about the computer and video game industry. In this next section, we'll take a look at how much gaming contributed to the US economy in 2016, as well as the games and genres played most by American gamers, and lastly, the trend of going digital continues to grow.
Gaming contributed to the US economy in 2016
- $11.7 billion - contributed to the US GDP by gaming in 2016.
- $30.4 billion - consumer spending on gaming in 2016 ($23.5 billion in 2015.)
- 65,678 - total number of jobs provided by gaming.
Best-selling video games of 2016 per units sold
What is Infinite Warfare doing at number one? And this after all the rage the game received before launch!
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- Battlefield 1
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Madden NFL 17
- NBA 2K17
- The Division
- Overwatch
- Minecraft
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III
- FIFA 17
- Pokemon Sun
- Pokemon Moon
- The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim
- Star Wars Battlefront
- Final Fantasy XV
- Titanfall 2
- NBA 2K 16
- Rainbow Six Siege
- Far Cry Primal
- Dark Souls III
Best-selling video game genres of 2016 per units sold
- 27.5% Shooters
- 22.5% Action
- 12.9% RPG
- 11.7% Sports
- 7.8% Adventure
- 5.8% Fighting
- 4.3% Strategy
- 4.1% Other
- 3.3% Racing
Other interesting facts
- 42% of gamers buy new video games without having tried them
- 32% of gamers buy games after downloading a trial or demo
- 54% of gamers believe gaming provides more value for their money
- 74% of gaming is now digital (includes subscriptions, games etc)
- 67% of gamers purchase a game based on quality graphics
- 65% of gamers purchase a game based on price
- 59% of gamers purchase a game based on "good story"
- 50% of gamers purchase a game for its multiplayer component
Am I the only one a bit confused here? If most American gamers purchase a game based on good graphics and price, then why was Infinite Warfare the number one selling game in 2016?
Source: ESA
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