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How remakes and remasters are driving the UK gaming economy

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  • With 37.3 million gamers, the UK gaming industry is the biggest in Europe

  • New report finds remastered games to be a driving force behind industry growth 

  • Gaming is more accessible than ever thanks to the rise of mobile gaming

Nineties teens are 69%1 more likely than the national average to spend between 21 and 28 hours gaming every week. And with this age group 47% more likely to have access to a Nintendo Switch, PS4 (42%) and Xbox One (44%), a new report reveals how developers are tapping into this market to drive the UK gaming economy.

From the impact of remakes and remasters, to how digital downloads are changing the industry, online smartphone retailer, Mobiles.co.uk, has taken an in-depth look at how the UK’s gaming industry is evolving.

The study reveals that the UK gaming industry has experienced huge growth in the past 10 years, with retail sales revenue between 2009 and 2019 increasing by a huge 72.6%2. Further insight also reveals that in 2019, the entire UK video game industry generated a huge £5.35 billion1 in revenue, with £3.77 billion3 of that total generated from video game software sales. But with an impressive 37.3 million4 gamers in the UK alone, what exactly is contributing to this growth?

According to Mobiles.co.uk’s report, the trend for remastered games including Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, Resident Evil 2 and The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening, all play significant roles in the growth of the gaming industry here in the UK.

The new UKIE UK Top Selling Games List for 2019 revealed the below remakes/remastered games were amongst the top 100 best selling boxed games sold in 2019, while the more recent Final Fantasy VII remake quickly became one of the PS4’s best selling game to date:

 

Rank

Title

Monthly Search Volume

16

Crash Bandicoot N.SaneTrilogy

6,6005

21

Resident Evil 2

27,1005

32

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

8,1005

 

Still remaining in the top 20 for the UK’s best-selling games of 2019 two years after its release, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy receives around 6,600 unique searches every month4, its continuing popularity indicates that British gamers are becoming increasingly nostalgic when it comes to their gaming choices.

Crash Bandicoot also features at number 21 in the 2019 list. The remaster spiked the interest of gamers in the UK with a huge 49% increase in search volume over the past 12 months alone5. With an average of 27,100 monthly searches5, the franchise’s decision to reboot this classic was certainly welcomed by the industry, indicating there is a huge appetite for nostalgic gameplay here in the UK.

The final remaster included in the list of the top-selling games is The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening. Originally launched on the Game Boy in 1993, the remake was designed for the Nintendo Switch. As of March 2020, the new Link’s Awakening had sold more than four million copies globally6, and it’s one of the best-selling games of all time for the Nintendo Switch.

Lee Chambers, Psychologist and gaming expert, commented on the research: “Gaming and nostalgia are heavily interconnected, to the point where it fuels trends and shapes the industry direction. Video games are incredible triggers for nostalgia, anchoring us back to an often carefree time, when we had fewer responsibilities and gaming became a social construct as groups of children all sat around in a bedroom socialising while playing.

“The reality of the industry is that nostalgic gamers are now the ones with purchasing power to relive past glories fighting dragons of their youth, while being decision-makers for buying games as presents for their children. And that is gradually shaping the industry, risk aversion for the new, settling for the old. Your average early millennial is approaching 40. They don’t have the time they did as a child to form an emotional bond to a game’s story with life’s distractions, but a remake removes that barrier, making it all the more attractive.”

The new study also reveals the impact digital downloads are having on the industry, with over two thirds (70%)6 of the UK’s total video game sales revenue, generating a total of £2.63 billion6, coming from digital downloads. Even more remarkably, 42%6 of this revenue came directly from mobile games, indicating a shift in the industry towards smartphone gaming.

The report indicates that UK gamers are not only changing the way they purchase games but thanks to recent advancements in smartphone technology – including cinematic displays, advanced GPUs and even the introduction of high-speed 5G – they’re also expanding the devices they play on.

With a projected 2%7 compound annual growth rate, the huge surge in the mobile gaming sector is predicted to maintain its momentum in 2020 and beyond. An estimated 21 million people in the UK played a mobile game in 20197, with 19% of users aged 18 to 24, 37% falling in the 25-34 age bracket and 23% aged 35-447.

Andrew Cartledge, mobile expert at Mobiles.co.uk, says “In the UK, and all across the world, there’s no doubt that the gaming industry is growing at a rapid speed. The excitement for the next remake or remaster makes sure there’s still a place for the old, while the huge shift towards digital assures the industry and its consumers can keep up with the new.

“Mobile gaming is already huge in 2020 and will only get bigger in the years to come. If you’re interested in trying out some of the very best mobile games like PUBG and Fortnite for yourself, make sure you have a powerful handset to play on.”

For the full report on the UK gaming industry, mobile gaming, remasters and more, please visit: https://www.mobiles.co.uk/blog/understanding-the-uk-gaming-industry-mobiles-remasters-and-more/#fn1

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Press Box PR strengthens team with addition of ex-Betway and Stats Perform content editor Will Rook

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Fast-growing digital PR agency has offices in London and Manchester 

Digital PR agency Press Box PR has strengthened its content team with the appointment of Will Rook as Senior Creative Content Manager.

Rook spent seven and a half years at Betway Group in various editorial roles between 2016 and 2023. He later worked with Stats Perform as Project Manager and Content Editor to help manage the delivery of its sports betting editorial content for their clients and produce much of the English language content himself.

He joins the content team at Press Box to develop engaging sports campaigns that leverage global trending topics from ideation through to execution, to earn top-tier media coverage for clients across multiple sectors, including sports, betting and gaming.

Press Box is an earned-first digital PR and content agency, delivering B2C and B2B communications, with specialisms in sport, betting and gaming, finance, consumer lifestyle and hospitality and catering brands.

Founded in 2019 by former Ladbrokes PR manager Alex Donohue, Press Box PR now employs more than 40 people across its offices in London and Manchester.

Rook said: “I’m really grateful for the opportunity at this stage of my career and can’t wait to get started. I’m excited to be joining a team that is growing and am looking forward to contributing to the success of the agency and our clients.”

Greg Johnson, Head of Content at Press Box PR, said: “Brilliant content is at the heart of what we do at Press Box and Will’s arrival further strengthens our team. His deep knowledge of sport and betting, combined with his proven ability to come up with great ideas and produce relevant and newsworthy content will help us continue to exceed expectations for our clients.”

The post Press Box PR strengthens team with addition of ex-Betway and Stats Perform content editor Will Rook appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ELA Games Unveils ‘John’s Book’: An Epic Quest Through the Sands of Egypt

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Classic “Book of” theme meets the studio’s modern art and mechanics

ELA Games, a dynamic game development studio, announces the release of John’s Book, its modern take on timeless themes and mechanics.

The game invites players to join John the Explorer to hunt for ancient treasures buried in a Pharaoh’s tomb. Rich with iconic symbols and familiar mechanics, John’s Book is a tribute to the well-loved “Book Of…” format that’s prevalent in the industry while adding its twists. With high replayability, easy-to-understand features, and an immersive design, this title appeals to both veteran and casual players.

At the heart of the game is the Book symbol. Land 3 or more to enter the lucrative Free Spins round, where Special Expanding Symbols drop randomly to supercharge your wins. The Free Spins round can be retriggered by landing another 3 Book symbols during the bonus. Stack up to 9 expanding symbols for a big payday!

The  game showcases ELA Games’ art and design, featuring a lush environment, eye-catching symbols, attractive animations, and engaging sound design. John’s Book immerses players in a game where they can connect with the protagonist and enjoy action-packed gameplay.

Marharyta Yerina, ELA Games’ Managing Director, commented on the game’s release, “John’s Book is an homage to a format we know players love. ‘Book Of…’ games are wildly popular for a good reason, but we wanted to refine them with ELA Games’ signature high-quality art and technical development. The result is a game that feels familiar yet fresh as it pushes the boundaries of the format with revitalised mechanics. We’re excited to see our players enjoy our take on a timeless classic.”

John’s Book is the latest addition to ELA Games’ rapidly growing portfolio as the studio continues to innovate and evolve well-known themes and formats in the industry.

John’s Book features:

  • RTP: 94%
  • Volatility: Medium
  • Format: 5×3
  • Paylines: 10
  • Max win: 5,000x
  • Free Spins with Special Expanding Symbols
  • Retriggerable bonus rounds

The post ELA Games Unveils ‘John’s Book’: An Epic Quest Through the Sands of Egypt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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QTech Games adds to its growing numbers with 77 Gaming

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Emerging-markets leader expands its offering with new games from rising star

QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets, has maintained the strong momentum in its deal-flow, thanks to its latest integration with rising star supplier, 77 Gaming.

Integrating content from one of the more innovative and creative online slots providers adds yet more muscle to QTech Games’ burgeoning platform, which is taking the widest range of online games to emerging territories with established names, such as Playtech and Aviator, sitting alongside the industry’s most exciting up-and-coming providers.

Recognised for its growing library of visually rich, mobile-first games, 77 Gaming is now layering daring narratives onto some cutting-edge mechanics, offering global operators varied content with which to captivate modern players. And by fusing unique maths modelling, which spans the volatility spectrum, with eye-catching storytelling, these games are fostering some truly engaging gameplay for a new cohort of QTech players.

77 Gaming’s portfolio of slots titles has been optimised for mobile, a cornerstone of QTech’s RNG model, which is founded on its fully-owned and customised technical platform, affording games providers and operators the fastest integration available. Through this leading platform, which has sealed its definitive status as a global gaming one-stop shop, clients enjoy the best performance and customer support available, localised to every region across both developing and more mature markets.

The deal organically broadens 77 Gaming’s international footprint, unlocking untapped jurisdictions for diversified growth from Asia to Africa and Eastern Europe to Latin America.

Philip Doftvik, QTech Games’ CEO, said: “77 Gaming create world-class slots provision for worldwide customers, opening up an expansive range of slots for every type of player and market. They are always looking to redefine the existing ecosystem and reimagine more traditional gaming experiences with every play.

“Similarly, we’re committed to rolling out first-class content that drives revenue for our partners. So, teaming up with 77 Gaming reflects our dedication to curating standout content from every niche of the industry. This deal extends our impressive sequential pipeline for 2025 – and we’ve thrilled to now have 77 Gaming aboard our dominant aggregation platform for emerging markets.”

Vicky Luo, Spokeswoman of 77 Gaming, added: “At 77 Gaming, we’re committed to raising the bar in the igaming sector and pushing the boundaries of how these games look and feel. With world-class mechanics, our games generate an unparalleled gaming experience, to our mind. Our unique design style and rapid production pace make them a strong fit for the leading aggregation models on the market, so this QTech integration is a real validation for us.”

“Furthermore, this collaboration with QTech Games represents a fantastic opportunity to strengthen our product distribution across emerging territories and deliver our great games to a range of top-tier partners.”

The post QTech Games adds to its growing numbers with 77 Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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