Game Digital hails success of Minecraft convention

Video game retailer Game Digital is looking forward to running more events after a convention for Minecraft fans attracted more than 10,000 attendees last month.

Minecraft helped drive Games convention and festivals division to new heights

The firm’s events division, Multiplay, worked alongside Mojang, the Swedish creator of the blockbuster title, to put on Minecon 2015 in London. Mojang was acquired by software giant Microsoft in a £1.5 billion deal last year.

Game told investors that it expects its convention and festivals business to grow “significantly” over the next three years.

The update came as the chain, led by chief executive Martyn Gibbs, said its annual underlying earnings should be in line with analysts’ forecasts of up to £47 million, despite seeing sales of the new generation of consoles tumble in the second half of the year.

However, the group, which has stores across the UK and Spain, said a strong performance in other product areas helped its gross transaction value for the 52 weeks to 25 July lift 2.3 per cent to £960m.