Future claims 10 million game site users per month
Future's claimed that its GamesRadar Network - a group of 16 websites, including GamesRadar, CVG and N4G - is visited by more than 10 million unique users per month.
The figure, said the British publisher, represents a 40 percent increase compared to 2007 traffic.
Future said that the 10 million number was arrived at through "internal HBX and Google Analytics audits".
ABC figures today showed that Future's print magazine portfolio saw drops on a majority of titles.
Press release after the break.
ABCs: Five magazines in ABC growth and strong progress in cross platform innovation
Future's games media engages more enthusiasts than ever before
12/02/09 - Future – the special-interest media group, announces that the combined audience for its games media portfolio continues to increase, reaching and influencing more young males than ever before.
Following exceptionally strong ABC portfolio growth in the previous year, five of Future’s eleven games magazines reported further ABC increases in 2008. Additionally, the company has made significant progress in its cross-platform strategy – which includes on-disc, on-console, events and online products building engagement with its gaming audience.
Future’s Official PlayStation Magazine grew by 16.6% year-on-year to 53,644 copies, whilst Official Nintendo Magazine held firm at 58,795 copies.
Independent console titles continued to fare well – with magazines for all three consoles reporting growth. PlayStation magazine PSW expanded its readership by 10.5% year-on-year to 24,118 copies. NGamer, the UK’s only independent Nintendo title sold 4.4% more copies, at 17,801. Future’s Xbox World 360 took the leadership position in the competitive independent Xbox 360 sector, growing 6.1% period-on-period.
Online, Future’s GamesRadar Network now attracts over 10 million unique users a month across the globe, a massive 40% increase from 2007. The company’s annual Golden Joystick Awards, described by the BBC as “the Oscars of gaming” saw gamer involvement grow by 15% to hit 850,000 votes in 2008.
Future continues to reach out to new audiences through its publishing partnerships. The company recently extended its deal with Panini to produce more issues of Girl Gamer – a mini magazine distributed to more than 350,000 young females through the pages of Bliss and Mizz.
Future was also tasked to create online editorial for Game.co.uk, the website for the UK’s leading games retailer. The company also worked with Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer, to create a GamesRadar branded buyer’s guide, with a print run of 500,000 copies each issue.
Moving into 2009, Future continues to extend its cross platform offering – strengthening its partnerships with Microsoft and Sony by launching rich on-console media. The company has recently launched Xbox 360: Official Xbox Magazine content through Microsoft’s Xbox Live Network and is set to launch an innovative new on-console magazine through Sony’s PlayStation Network later this year.
James Binns is Publishing Director of Future’s games portfolio:
“Future’s games print ABC results outshine men’s lifestyle titles – we do this by delivering more engaged readers committed to their special-interest. Future’s strategy of building more touchpoints around our brands is starting to pay off, with growth in web, events, on-console media and mobile activity. We are well set for 2009.”
ENDS
Quoted web traffic figures derived from internal HBX and Google Analytics audits.