As gamers await the release of Nintendo’s GameCube and Microsoft’s Xbox in November, unit shipments of video game consoles are expected to decline in 2001, according to Cahners In-Stat Group.
The market research firm reports that last year, worldwide video game console shipments totaled more than $4.5 billion in revenue and, despite this year’s decline, unit shipments should increase substantially between 2000 and 2005.
“The video game console market is seeing a period of unprecedented change,” said Brian O’Rourke, a Senior Analyst with In-Stat. “This change has been marked by the exit of legacy player Sega from the market, and the arrival of Microsoft.”
In-Stat has also found that:
- Overall unit shipments of video game consoles will increase by more than 13 percent per year between 2000 and 2005.
- Sony is the dominant player in the video game console market. PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 1 were the two best selling consoles worldwide in 2000, and are expected to repeat in 2001.
- The Nintendo GameCube should have a significant advantage in the console wars, specifically because of its $100 price advantage. To cost conscious parents and gamers, a $199 console may prove to be more appealing than a $299 console, particularly in current economic conditions.
The report, “Ready to Rumble: The Video Game Console Market,” includes a five-year forecast for the game console market. Contact Matthew Woods at 617.630.2139 or mwoods@instat.com.
