According to the Q1 2012 Games Market Dynamics: U.S.* report from market research company, The NPD Group, the total consumer spend on other physical forms of content (used and rental) reached $525 million, and content in digital format (full game and add-on content downloads, subscriptions, mobile games and social network games) generated $1.38 billion.

This is in addition to the $1.5 billion spent in the U.S. by consumers on new physical video and PC game software in the first quarter of 2012,

“The declines in the physical market for new physical software are well documented,” said Anita Frazier, industry analyst, The NPD Group. “But, a broader view of the games industry shows that other physical content sales (the combination of used and rental) declined by just five percent and digital format content sales grew by 10 percent as compared to Q1 2011. While the growth in digital format sales does not yet offset the declines in physical format sales, clearly the changes occurring within the industry are reflected in the trends we are seeing in the research.”

Comparison to Europe

Similar research in the UK, France and Germany shows that the consumer spend on other forms of physical games content outside of new physical retail sales totalled $300 million (used and rental) while digital format sales in those three countries (full game and add-on content downloads, subscriptions, mobile games and social network games) generated an additional $959 million in sales during Q1 2012.

“Relative to the spend in the U.S., we find that the consumer spend on mobile games is still developing in the three European countries we are covering, while the spend on full game and add-on content digital downloads and subscriptions is more highly developed,” said Frazier.

Methodology

The estimates are published in NPD’s report, Games Market Dynamics:  U.S. (formerly known as the Games Industry:  Total Consumer Spend) – released by The NPD Group in June 2012 – and are derived leveraging NPD’s portfolio of physical POS tracking (Retail Tracking Service) and consumer research including the Games Acquisition Monitor, Video Game and PC Game Subscriptions Report and Consumer Tracking Service. It also incorporates consumer spend estimation provided by NPD retail and publisher partners, and calibration with third-party sources. Estimates for the three European countries are published in NPD’s report, Games Market Dynamics: Europe, which utilizes like methodology to the U.S. service across the areas of consumer spend that are outside of new physical retail sales.

*The NPD Group has enhanced its Games Market Dynamics information in conjunction with retail and publishing partners, and third-party sources to allow for improved visibility into alternative channels. Due to these periodic updates, care should be taken when comparing any data in this press release to prior Games Market Dynamics press releases.

Related Articles

Best selling games in SA (May 2012)

SA gamers’ platforms of choice

How much SA’s gamers earn and spend on gaming

Most popular ADSL ISP among gamers

SA gamers’ broadband connection of choice

South African Internet stats for 2011

All SA gaming market news coverage