Nearly 10 million gamers purchase collector’s editions of video games

• More than one in four players buys collector’s editions of digital games
• Bonus levels and additional virtual content most popular
• Market for collector’s editions has exhibited positive development

Berlin, 3 March 2016 – Collector’s or special editions of computer and video games that include additional content are particularly popular among gamers in Germany. More than one in four players in Germany (28 per cent, or 9.7 million Germans) buys these editions, which include extra content such as soundtracks, bonus levels or figurines alongside the actual game. 3.3 million people in Germany, or one out of ten players (10 per cent) frequently or regularly purchase special collector’s editions that offer bonus items. These are the results of a survey of internet users aged 14 and older conducted by market research institute GfK on behalf of the BIU, the German Games Industry Association. Many regular-price games for PCs and consoles are also available as collector’s editions. Compared to the normal editions of these games, the collector’s editions generally include much more elaborate packaging, additional content such as bonus levels and missions, and action figures, soundtracks or art books.
 
[quotation cite=”Dr. Maximilian Schenk, Managing Director of the BIU”] ”
Video game fans feel such a close connection to the worlds in their favourite games that they are willing to pay significantly more for comprehensive collector’s editions.
[/quotation]‘Whilst consumers are spending less and less on music and movies, video game fans feel such a close connection to the worlds in their favourite games that they are willing to pay significantly more for comprehensive collector’s editions,’ explains Dr Maximilian Schenk, Managing Director of BIU. ‘The share of sales revenue generated by collector’s editions of games on physical media has exhibited extremely positive development in recent years.’

Bonus levels and additional virtual content most popular features

Among gamers, the most popular feature of collector’s editions is additional content for the game. For more than one out of four gamers (29 per cent), bonus levels, missions or special in-game equipment justify the higher price of collector’s editions. Exclusivity is important to one out of five gamers (18 per cent); for them, collector’s editions become more interesting when they are only produced in limited numbers. Features drawn directly from the game world are also popular with players: for 17 per cent of them, action figures of the game’s main characters (made of plastic, for example) are an interesting addition. The soundtrack to the game would make the special edition worth buying for 15 per cent of gamers. Art books including sketches and graphics of individual characters or eye-catching game locations would be a welcome addition for more than one out of ten gamers (11 per cent). Elaborate packaging for collector’s editions is similarly popular – for 11 per cent of gamers, it would be a reason to buy a special edition.

Note on market data:

Market research and opinion polling institute GfK surveyed 2,026 German-speaking internet users aged 14 and older regarding how many gamers had purchased collector’s editions in the past and what features they found most attractive. All data is representative.

About the BIU

BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (German Games Industry Association) is the association of the German computer and video games industry. Its 26 members are developers, publishers and providers of digital games, and they represent over 85 per cent of the German market. The BIU is, for example, the sponsor of gamescom. As an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, the BIU answers all questions on the topic of digital games.

Press contact

Martin Puppe
BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware e. V.
Charlottenstrasse 62
10117 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 2408779 20
Fax: +49 (0)30 2408779 11
Email: puppe@biu-online.de
Twitter: @game_eV
Facebook.com/BIUeV

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