Warhammer product sales surge for Games Workshop irrespective of store closures

Profits of the fantasy position-enjoying video game Warhammer surged in the six months to November as individuals ongoing to invest far more on their hobbies in lockdown.

Games Workshop, which can make the tabletop miniature activity, saw revenue hit a report £186.8m in the time period, up 26%.

This was irrespective of most of the Nottingham firm’s 529 shops currently being limited or closed thanks to Covid regulations.

It follows solid performances from other game titles and hobby corporations in lockdown this sort of as product prepare maker Hornby.

Made in 1983, Warhammer is a fantasy topic sport in which gamers simulate battles among armies using plastic miniatures.

Game titles Workshop, which sells Warhammer and other miniature wargames close to the entire world, claimed its on line profits ended up up 90% in May to November whilst earnings increased by a 3rd.

Some 4.7 million individuals now use the Warhammer local community web site, it claimed, an maximize of 200,000 on the identical period of time final calendar year.

Boss Kevin Rountree explained the enterprise ongoing to develop on the “terrific development and successful growth we have been consistently offering over the final five several years”.

The FTSE-detailed company has claimed no monetary assistance or subsidies from the govt through the pandemic, even with the prolonged closures of its outlets.

“I might like to thank our enthusiastic and faithful supporter foundation who share our enjoy for the Warhammer interest and the fantastical options, people and narratives that make up our intellectual home,” Mr Rountree included.

‘An escape’

In Oct, Geek Retreat, which specialises in comics, memorabilia and tabletop online games, explained it would open a further 100 stores in the Uk immediately after product sales surged in the pandemic.

And Hornby, which also can make Corgi cars and Scalextric racing kits, described a 33% increase in profits for the 6 months to the conclusion of September partly driven by lockdown.

At the time Boss Lyndon Davies informed the BBC prospects experienced been searching for consolation from uncertainty in merchandise “they know and enjoy”, as perfectly an escape from boredom.

“Individuals want to do issues, they do not want to sit there viewing the Tv for the working day,” he said.