2019 ANNUAL REPORT EDITORIAL EDITORIAL “Our ambition is to bring together “The wide presence of video all the great initiatives that help games in homes incites concerns recognise and promote video but also opportunities for gaming." sharing. " DEAR MEMBERS, Paris Games Week pursued its investment to DEAR MEMBERS, agreement with Silver Geek that will promote encourage everyone to take part in the event, access to digital technology for seniors and optimising its accessibility. Our ambition is to also develop their use of eSport as a leisure The tempo for 2019 bring together all the great initiatives that help 2019 was full of projects activity. was set by the many recognise and promote video gaming. and challenges for projects that promoted the video game eSport was also a very popular topic in 2019 with the rich fabric of video We support these initiatives at PGW and sector. With a market the ever-increasing involvement of political gaming, the many talented people in the also throughout the year with many projects representing over 4.8 billion euros in France, decision-makers and organisations. With the industry but first and foremost the gamers. This about important society issues. Our industry’s video gaming confirms its role in the life of presentation of the government’s 2020-2025 was translated by the heavy involvement of responsibility has always been a driving force French people, 49% of whom play regularly. eSport strategy, backed by both Cédric O and SELL in content production, event organisation for SELL, through the recognition of PEGI and This wide presence in homes incites concerns Roxana Maracineanu, the sector and France and investments in community initiatives. our many commitments, too. Today, SELL is and also opportunities for sharing. Esports in particular have become even more involved in optimising accessibility in gaming established. With its targets and missions, this Last year, we wanted to spotlight the different with CapGame, developing intergenerational Video gaming is an excellent media for roadmap gives the organisation all it needs to stages of creating a video game and its connections through video games with Silver circulating stories and discovering new worlds. help the government make eSport an attractive relationship with art through a series of Geek, promoting and improving sexual equality It is also an opportunity for families to share feather in France’s cap. documentaries: “Art & Video games” and “Game in our sector alongside Women in Games and, time together and create new connections. This in Progress”. This year, we are giving a voice to finally, through the PédaGoJeux collective, year, SELL wanted to raise awareness about The interest the public authorities and elected gamers through a series of portraits entitled raising parent awareness about children’s how important these play times are through officials have for our sector is demonstrated by “Player Profile”. These short videos tackle the leisure activities. a campaign for parents called “Good gaming, its recognition. Franck Riester, the Minister for connection between the passion for gaming good memories”. Its focuses are promoting Culture, awarded Julie Chalmette a Knighthood and other leisure activities like painting, sport I would like to thank Franck Riester, the Minister PEGI, game time and parental controls. from the Order of Arts and Literature for her and fashion. for Culture, for awarding me a Knighthood from commitment to video games, culture and the Order of Arts and Literature. I'm extremely The intergenerational connection created diversity. Through our Chairwoman, it is our These passionate fans came together for Paris honoured to have received this award. I see it through video gaming is something that entire creative industry that is recognised for Games Week which welcomed some 317,000 as important recognition for our sector and the SELL is developing with Silver Geek. This its talent and work. visitors. The event that celebrated its 10th women who have contributed to it. organisation wants to build social connections edition closed its doors with a new visitor by helping seniors in care homes discover The SELL team would like to congratulate Julie record. PGW is a reflection of the passion that This year again, SELL members have video games. Workshops were set up by Chalmette once again for her hard work for drives us and enables visitors to witness the demonstrated their keen motivation for young people on civilian military service, SELL over the last three years, focusing our industry’s many facets. A great many products our vocation. Thanks to all of you for your helping build connections between the actions on promoting a responsible industry, for the festive season and 2020 previews were contribution and commitment. generations. This programme also includes a the gamers and highlighting the sector’s tested. competition with the organisation of eSport talented people. JULIE CHALMETTE tournaments between care homes all over SELL CHAIRWOMAN France. To help the organisation roll-out EMMANUEL MARTIN its project nationally, SELL signed a partnership GENERAL DELEGATE OF SELL 2 3 SELL CONTENTS SELL CONTENTS WHO WE ARE SELL 5 he Union of Video Game Publishers is a professional organisation About us 5 made up of businesses from the video game sector specialised Members 6 in publishing. With 23 members, 20 publishers and three The board of directors 7 associate members, SELL is the spokesperson for video game Tbusinesses in contact with gamers, families, politicians, organisations Our missions 8 and the media. Our partners 10 High points in 2019 12 Publishers are specialists in video game promotion. They find and Representing video game editors 14 support talented studios and provide the distribution, marketing and advertising resources for what they create. SELL’s vocation Public affairs 14 is to federate these partners and encourage their work on agreed The structure of eSport 20 actions, expressing the richness, creativity and responsibilities of this Informing, protecting and supporting initiatives 22 industry. Its main missions are to promote video gaming and raise Informing and protecting 22 awareness of gamers and their families about best practices, so they can enjoy gaming with peace of mind. Safeguarding video games 24 Supporting inclusion 26 Promoting video games 28 Paris Games Week 2019 28 Key figures 30 SINCE 1995, EVERY YEAR IDEF 2019 32 Creating benchmark content 34 THE UNION WORKS AND INCREASES A cultural and artistic dimension: video games and talent 36 ITS ACTIONS IN LINE SELL in the media 38 Structuring market information 40 WITH THE SECTOR’S Market figures 40 DYNAMIC DEVELOPMENTS French people and video games 41 Union life 42 4 5 SELL SELL THE BOARD MEMBERS OF DIRECTORS Activision Blizzard Bandai Namco Entertainment Bethesda Frédérique Christophe Havart Julie Chalmette de Fondaumière Electronic Arts Focus Home Interactive Microids Dominique Cor John Bert Yves Bléhaut Microsoft Nintendo Sony Interactive Entertainment Ina Gelbert Philippe Lavoué Philippe Cardon Take-Two Interactive Ubisoft Warner Bros. Entertainment Patrick Bellaiche John Parkes Yves Elalouf and Michel Magne The Board of Directors would like to thank Hugues Ouvrard for his hard work. 6 7 SELL SELL PROMOTING VIDEO GAMES OUR MISSIONS SELL’s mission is to promote video gaming, the industry’s innovations and creativity with the general public, national and European stakeholders and also the media, through various messages and REPRESENTING THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY statements and also two annual benchmark events: As an industry spokesperson, SELL’s primary vocation is to defend the interests of its members and, • IDEF – created in June 2006, this trade show brings together manufacturers, publishers, accessory more generally, the entire video game sector. It is the key contact with public authorities, politicians manufacturers and buyers to generate business; and also innovative and cultural ecosystems. • Paris Games Week – created in October 2010, this general public exhibition promotes the entire To achieve this, SELL is involved with several organisations and working groups: gaming ecosystem every year to share the sector’s new products with gamers. The 2019 edition • Inter-ministerial working group made up of the General Directorate for Enterprise (DGE), the CNC, hosted some 317,000 visitors and 194 exhibitors. the National Video Game Union (SNJV) and SELL; • CSA – member of the Child Protection Commission; • CNC – member of the Commission for Diversity in the Cultural Sector; • ISFE – member of the Board of Directors; • Industry monitoring committee; • Strategic guidance for the National Digital Council; • France Esports – Secretary General and member of the Board of Directors. INFORMING, PROTECTING AND SUPPORTING RESPONSIBLE INITIATIVES Since its beginnings, SELL has been committed to a corporate social responsibility initiative to inform and protect the consumer. In this way, the organisation operates in many areas to raise the awareness of gamers, parents and families about how to play video games. This investment is represented by concrete actions: • PEGI – created in 2003 and approved in 2015 by the French government, this European video game STRUCTURING MARKET INFORMATION system that rates the games according to content and age provides clear and precise information SELL works with partners to provide the whole ecosystem with reliable studies on the video game about video games; market, gamer profiles and also gamer purchasing