INTERNATIONAL FACTFILE Wholesaler and distributor of video games, consoles and accessories France
MCV finds out why our neighbour across the channel is the home to some of Europe’s best gaming talent
THE FACTS Population: 65,350,000 Currency: Euro GDP (Per Capita): $41,141 Capital City: Paris Language: French
KEY RETAILERS
Auchan, Amazon, Boulanger, Carrefour, Casino, Cora, Fnac, Géant, Intermaché, Leclerc, Micromania, Pixmani, Système U, Virgin
MAIN DISTRIBUTORS Big Ben, Innelec, Koch Media, SDO, Sodifa
TOP DEVELOPERS Ankama, Arkane Studios, Artefacts Studio, BigPoint, BulkyPix, Cyanide, Dontnod Entertainment, Eden Game, Etranges Libellules, IsCool Entertainment, Kobojo, Lexis Numérique, Nadeo, Playsoft, Quantic Dream, Ubisoft
PUBLISHERS IN THE REGION Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Capcom, Digital Bros, Disney Interactive Studios, EA, Focus Home Interactive, Koch Media, Konami, Micro Application, Microsoft, Namco Bandai , Nintendo, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment, Square Enix, Take- Two, Ubisoft, Warner Bros
ABOUT THE MARKET
FRANCE has remained one of the biggest gaming markets in Europe over the last few years, and is an industry supported by several trade bodies and government schemes. France has its own national video game association in the SNJV. Established in 2008, the firm aims to promote the French video games industry, help finance game production and enhance training and employment rates in the sector. Examples of its efforts can be seen as recently as in May, when the SNJV backed a proposal under the Public Investment Bank to give equity loans to the games industry. This is aimed at helping firms working in the region keep up with international competition.
SNJV operates alongside the pre- existing FAJV body, a firm financed by the Ministry of Economy to support ‘research and development,
18 Around the World
France is second only to the US in terms of the number of video games produced by local studios.
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with the SNJV to discuss ‘how to ensure the future of gaming in France and Europe?’. This focused on the opportunities presented by mobile, digital and the next generation of consoles.
innovation, and creativity in the video game industry.’ Further proof that the games sector is taken as seriously in government came in February, when parliament chaired a meeting
Whilst the UK games industry is finalising its own tax breaks scheme, it is an incentive that has been offered in France since 2008. However, French tax breaks are limited to video games with development costs that come to a minimum of €150,000.
Video game production created a turnover of €3bn in France last year and the nation is second only to the United States in terms of the number of games produced. France is home to some of the world’s most creative game developers, like Lyon-based Dishonored team Arkane Studios, Remember Me studio Dontnod Entertainment and Beyond: Two Souls creator Quantic Dream. Also based in the region is publishing giant Ubisoft plus Bigben Interactive, Europe’s biggest games peripherals company.
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