MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Digital is thriving in Israel, with few specialist retail outlets present.
Games are primarily sold either by very small independent retailers or general stores. This is due to the ease of accessing download services such as Steam.
This has, in turn, led to a dearth of distribution firms, with just three – EdLee Entertainment, SFAR and Hed Arzi – serving as the inlet to the region for the big publishers such as Sony, EA, Ubisoft and Activision.
According to market research firm NewZoo, Israel’s games industry saw revenue of an estimated $47.9 million (32.4m) in 2014.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Ministry of Economy believes that the local games market could be worth up to $730 million (493m).
The local government has begun to invest in the country’s video games sector, inviting 10 Israeli games outlets to the American event Casual Connect last year in an effort to promote Israel’s games output.
The Ministry of Economy estimates that around 3,000 people are currently employed in the games industry in Israel.
Nonprofit organisation GameIS adds that around $300 million (203m) in revenue is generated by mobile and social titles created in Israel alone.
Israeli firms are making waves in other areas of the industry.
Cloud gaming platform Playcast, which is based in Caesarea, partnered with Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung earlier this year. Under the agreement, Playcast’s technology will allow users to stream console titles from the likes of EA, Bandai Namco, Disney, Sega, Square Enix and Konami directly to their smart TVs.
Population: 8,238,300
Capital City: Jerusalem
Currency: New Shekel
GDP (Per Capita): $38,004
KEY RETAILERS
BUG, Olsale, Hameir, VGS Games, KSP Group, MediaGame, Toys R Us
KEY DISTRIBUTORS
Edlee Entertainment, Oberson Media, Matomy Media Group, Benda Magnetic ISFAR,Hed Arzi Music
TOP DEVELOPERS
Funtactix, Tabtale, Side-Kick, Corbomite Games, Nitako, Playful Shark, Playtika, Space Cowboys, We Create Stuff, Nordau Creative, eMaginarium, SpikySnail, Plarium
