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New report says piracy does not affect video game sales

A new report by The European Commission has found that piracy does not affect video game sales.

The body’s 307-page report (via Games Industry), produced by research firm Ecorys, studied the impact of piracy on various forms of entertainment including TV, music, film, books and games. The study focused on European nations; of the sample, Poland and Spain were found to have the highest piracy rates.

According to the report, 51% of European adults and 72% of European minors have illegally accessed content. Games-wise, 18% of adults and 16% of minors said they play pirated content on a modded console.

Despite these numbers, the report says piracy doesn’t impact game sales.

“In general, the results do not show robust statistical evidence of displacement of sales by online copyright infringements,” it reads. “That does not necessarily mean that piracy has no effect but only that the statistical analysis does not prove with sufficient reliability that there is an effect.”

Moreover, the report says piracy actually helps sales.

“Illegal consumption leads to increased legal consumption,” the report found.

What do you make of the report’s findings? You can read the full report here.


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Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.