The outbreak of the Corona virus and the imposition of social distancing measures led to a significant rise in sales of entertainment devices and video games, in Europe and the United States.

Writer Chloe Wattier says, in a report for the French newspaper "Le Figaro", that this year, which has been overshadowed by the severe crisis caused by the Corona virus, it is difficult to find an economic sector that has not been affected.

However, video games represented the exception in this context, after the shares of video game companies recorded a big rise in the stock market.

The newspaper stated that the French company Ubisoft achieved a rise in its shares by 22%, Electronic Arts (EA) of America 30%, and Activision-Blizzard of America 50%, and the Japanese Nintendo (Nintendo) increased by 50%.

These amazing numbers come despite the fact that 2020 was not auspicious for those in charge of these companies, who did not wait for any growth in profits.

The writer quotes Olivier Garcia, director of games at the French company Fnac, which sells electronic devices and software, as saying, "We were expecting a very difficult year. As the PlayStation 4 and Xbox consoles are dying, and sales for the first quarter of 2020 were meager." But suddenly the virus and the movement restrictions imposed on people came, and everything changed. "

It also indicates that the data collected by the French "GDS" institute, which studies the video games market in Europe, shows how this virus was a boon for this sector, as it is between the first of January / 15 March / March 2020, sales of devices, games and accessories were witnessing a 15% decline compared to the previous year.

However, the situation changed drastically between March 16 and May 31, that is, during the first period of quarantine, as this market witnessed a jump of 51%.

And sales of games in their digital version increased by 127% in Europe, with growth of 183% in France, 213% in Spain and 227% in Italy.

The writer explains that European families have turned to playing video games, since they found themselves confined to the house.

Its goal was simply to escape isolation and maintain ties with relatives and friends, even if it was through online play.

She adds that sales of the PlayStation 4 were declining by 27% at the beginning of 2020, and suddenly it made a 62% jump between March and May.

The Nintendo Switch has doubled its sales in Europe compared to the fall of 2019, thanks to the release of Animal Crossing Est.

Previous expectations of the demise of video game devices now seem unlikely, since these devices have maintained their distinction (Reuters)

The author points out that this game, which was released in late March, represented its theme, the appropriate antidote to the atmosphere of tension and fear that prevailed due to the outbreak of the virus: as this game represents a new life on an island where cute animals live.

This represents a pink world to which more than 26 million players traveled around the world between March and September, in a record count.

The animal crossing game has been at the forefront of video game sales over the past months, and it may become the best-selling game in 2020 in Europe, surpassing FIFA 21 soccer.

A recovery in the US market

The author says that the video games and entertainment devices markets in the United States have also made a big leap, as since the beginning of the year 2020, the pace of purchases has accelerated by 22% compared to 2019, which has made companies in this sector an increase in profits amounting to 44.5 billion dollars.

Players' expenses, which include paying for some accessories and accessories, increased by 21% to $ 38 billion, according to the American Institute for the Study of Consumption.

The author points out that this rise in the games sector was not limited to the spring season, as throughout the months of the year 2020 the video game companies achieved great success, after sales of Final Fantasy 7 and Ghost of Tsushima reached Five million copies in just five months.

As for The Last of Us 2, it achieved four million sales in just three days.

The author pointed out that previous expectations of the demise of video game devices now seem unlikely, since these devices have maintained their technical excellence, and their designers are smart enough to adapt to changing consumer trends.

And now, a new era of services has begun, based on paying a unified and comprehensive subscription to obtain unlimited advantages and overcome the difficulties in the game and obtain the tools that the player needs, all of which will simplify dealing within the world of video games.