WASHINGTON—February 7, 2019—Today, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) welcomed as new members Intellivision Entertainment, Natsume Inc., Riot Games, SEGA of America, THQ Nordic, and Wizards of the Coast. The American video game industry enters the new year with its economic and social impact at an all-time high. During the last five years, the industry almost doubled in size, growing from $22.4 billion in revenue to $43.4 billion in revenue in 2018. Video games influence the world far beyond just entertainment, with numerous other industries, including education, healthcare, and engineering, using them.
Video games are a fixture of American life: 150 million Americans play video games, two-thirds of American parents play video games with their children, the industry employs 220,000 people across the nation, and more than 500 colleges and universities across 46 states offer programs or degrees in video-game related areas of study. The ESA’s advocacy and representation on the national and global stage unites publishers and developers in providing premier interactive entertainment experiences and responding to consumers.
“We are stronger as an industry when the most innovative video game companies come together to champion the positive impact of video games before policymakers around the country,” said acting ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis. “We look forward to working with our expanding membership to leverage their support of a unified industry that shares ideas, engages with policymakers, and nurtures the next generation of creators.”
The ESA advances the video game industry’s interests on key issues including First Amendment rights, intellectual property protection, and international trade, including digital trade protections. The association also promotes the industry’s influence in dynamic new areas like the growing esports sector and virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies.
