We celebrate International Video Game Day and continue to move forward with “El Jap!”

August 29th is International Video Game Day, one of the most established industries with the greatest impact across the planet. Although it is not all lights and there is more than one shadow with the massive layoffs in the industry over the last few years, its potential is undoubted and the video game sector has grown in Spain recently, as happened in 2023 with a growth of 16% and a record turnover of more than 2,339 million euros, according to data from the Spanish Association of Video Games (AEVI). 

The video game industry is equivalent to 0.11% of Spanish GDP, representing an impact of 3 euros per euro invested in the economy as a whole. As reflected by AEVI in its 2023 yearbook, Spain is the third largest video game market in the European Union. 

Regarding the consumption of video games among the Spanish population, the “Study on the consumption of video games among the adult population and in families”, by SigmaDos and AEVI, reflects interesting conclusions:

• 50% of gamers in 2024 have medium or higher university studies, a figure much higher than that obtained in 2015 (27.1%).
• The presence of women in the choice of video games as a method of leisure continues to grow considerably and they already account for 49% of users.
• A 56.8% of parents think that playing video games with their children helps to strengthen relationships, and only 1.1% consider that playing does not strengthen relationships.
• The majority of those surveyed “fairly agree” that video games can improve health, help with educational tasks and develop intelligence.
• 79.2% of gamers felt that video games were essential as a method of escape during confinement.

These data reflect the importance of a fundamental sector for Spain and the world and its expansion to different audiences, much wider than a few years ago.

AIR Institute celebrates International Video Games Day and, as a technology center, is delighted to be part of the sector through “El Jap!”, the International Videogames and Animation Hub that it develops together with the Junta de Castilla y León and ICECYL, with the collaboration of institutions and companies. 

“El Jap!” seeks to create a favorable environment for video game and animation companies to set up in Salamanca and other provinces of Castilla y León, as well as to provide support to existing ones. The initiative was presented last June at the great Salamanca Tech Summit congress with two round tables (one on videogames and the other on animation) which were a success in terms of attendees and media coverage. 

The activities of “El Jap!” are divided into four programs: Innovation; Training; Videogame and Digital Animation Accelerator; and Dynamization and Communication. These involve the creation of laboratories and platforms for collaborative projects that will offer advice, dissemination and training. Likewise, micro-credentials and face-to-face and online workshops are planned for interested people, as well as some 100 scholarships and internships in companies for the training of graduates and students. The accelerator will promote the creation of a technology observatory and a service to help startups finance their activity, while the Dynamization and Communication Program will host an annual congress and a positioning plan for “El Jap!” and its associated companies.

If you want to be part of this great International Video Game and Animation Hub you can contact through info@eljap.es or through their social networks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. What better way to celebrate International Video Game Day!