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Global digital revenue up 4% in February SuperData Research’s latest report shows a four per cent growth in worldwide digital software revenue, bolstered by a strong start for Ubisoft’s For Honor
DIGITAL revenue for the worldwide games software market reached $7.63bn (£6.12bn) in February according to a new report from SuperData Research, showing a growth of 4 per cent year-on-year. The data firm put this down to a nine per cent and eight per cent year-on-year growth in the mobile and console segments respectively, but said shrinking pay-to-play, freeto-play and social markets curtailed the figure overall. In the US alone, digital revenue grew 6.4 per cent year-on-year in February across console, PC and mobile games, with console digital revenue in particular showing an impressive 18 per cent rise yearon-year. This was partly due to the higher average selling price of digital units, but DLC releases are also helping to extend a game’s life cycle beyond its initial launch. SuperData also reported a strong start for Ubisoft’s For Honor, which sold through more than 700,000 digital units across console and PC. This is particularly notable considering February’s a traditionally slow month post-
Christmas, but EA’s Battlefield 1 arguably outshone For Honor’s achievement by selling more digital units across console and PC in February than Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Titanfall 2 combined. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare still ranked higher in SuperData’s Top Ten worldwide rankings, however, claiming the No.2 spot while Battlefield 1 charted at No.4. Meanwhile, FIFA 17 claimed the No.1 spot in February thanks to another month of strong digital growth. Ultimate Team console revenue grew by 15 per cent yearon-year in monthly active users, and it also showed a rise in both conversion and average revenue per paying user. It’s not all good news, however, as Blizzard’s Hearthstone hit an all-new low last month, with revenue down significantly both year-on-year and monthon-month. SuperData didn’t provide exact figures, but noted that recent gameplay decisions have been unpopular with the Hearthstone community, which has resulted in a sharp decrease in conversion on mobile.
Top grossing console titles worldwide, ranked by February 2017 earnings:
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
FIFA 17 EA Title Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Grand Theft Auto V Battlefield 1 Call of Duty: Black Ops III Ark: Survival Evolved For Honor Madden NFL 17 Destiny NBA 2K17
Publisher Activision Blizzard Rockstar EA Activision Blizzard Studio Wildcard Ubisoft EA Activision 2K
Gamescom 2017 tickets now on sale TICKETS for Europe’s biggest games show are now on sale. Running from Tuesday August 22nd (or Wednesday 23rd for members of the public) until Saturday August 26th, Gamescom 2017 returns to Cologne’s Koelnmesse once again for its ninth edition this summer, and tickets for the event are now available from the show’s online Ticket Shop. Trade visitor tickets are available for each day of the show, but three-day passes granting access from Tuesday to Thursday are also up for grabs. Early bird prices
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will apply while stocks last, but much like previous years, each trade visitor ticket is issued to a specific person and cannot be transferred to other attendees. Regular day passes for members of the public are also available, along with family tickets for two parents or legal guardians and at least two children aged 7-11. Valid ticket holders will also be able to use Cologne’s public transport networks VRR and VRS to arrive at and depart from the show free of charge.
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04/04/2017 16:13