PC Gaming Alliance Illuminates State of PC Gaming Worldwide with Release of Horizons Report
Exclusive PCGA Study Shows PC Gaming a $10.7B Industry, Reveals
Explosive Online Growth
LEIPZIG, Germany--(Business Wire)--
The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) today unveiled the key findings from
its first "Horizons" Report, an exclusive research study of the PC
gaming industry worldwide. Speaking at the Games Convention
Developer's Conference in Leipzig, PCGA president Randy Stude
announced that PC gaming was a $10.7 billion industry during the year
of 2007, with retail sales accounting for just 30 percent of total
revenues. According to the report, growth was largely driven by online
revenues from Asia, the world's largest market, which is approaching
half of total worldwide sales.
Online PC gaming revenue led the way in 2007 with $4.8 billion,
nearly double the worldwide retail sales numbers for PC games. Digital
distribution sales approached $2 billion, while advertising revenues
from websites, portals, and in-game ads accounted for $800 million.
Both are expected to grow substantially as major developers and
publishers begin to adopt formal strategies to take advantage of new
online opportunities.
"Our analysis clearly shows incredible growth in online PC gaming,
proof that this industry is far stronger than anyone has reported,"
said Stude. "Today's consumers shop where they live - online."
According to DFC Intelligence, there is even more room for growth
as the broadband market matures.
"By pioneering new business models, the PC has quietly remained
the single leading platform for games, not only in terms of consumer
usage, but revenue generation," said David Cole, an analyst with DFC
Intelligence. "The most fascinating thing about PC gaming is its
ability to attract such a diverse audience, both demographically and
geographically. The real key has been the rapid growth in penetration
of broadband-connected PCs in all markets around the
world. Broadband-connected PCs are the key driver of growth for PC
gaming. DFC Intelligence estimated that by the end of 2007 less than
one-third of households in the top 20 markets for games had a
high-speed Internet connection. That clearly indicates that there is
still plenty of growth to come. The initiatives of the PCGA will be a
key enabler of growth as they will help the industry identify key
trends and opportunities in this rapidly emerging market."
Updated bi-annually, the full Horizons Report is available to all
PCGA members. It encompasses sales from every region around the world,
and from every part of the PC gaming industry compiled by the PCGA
from internal resources through a third party. This includes retail,
online gaming, digital distribution, and online advertising. Those
interested in joining can find membership details and additional
information about the PCGA and its role as the voice of the PC gaming
industry at www.pcgamingalliance.org.
Anyone interested in the state of the PC gaming industry will also
be able to see Randy Stude present the key findings of the Horizons
report during NVISION 08 in San Jose, Calif. on August 25 in the San
Jose Hilton adjacent to the convention center at 3:30 p.m. in San
Carlos rooms 1 & 2. More NVISION details can be found at
www.nvision2008.com.
About the PCGA
The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) is a nonprofit corporation whose
mission is to drive worldwide growth of PC gaming. With high-profile
members such as Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, and Dell, the PCGA
provides an open forum where companies can cooperate to develop and
promote solutions that drive the PC gaming industry forward. The PCGA
encourages the exchange of information and views to promote PC gaming,
and shares promotional activity designed to grow the PC gaming
industry.
TriplePoint
Wes Phillips, 415-955-8515
wes@triplepointpr.com
or
DFC Intelligence
Wanda Meloni, 760-633-0078
wmeloni@dfcint.com
Copyright Business Wire 2008
