PCGA: Global PC Gaming Market Grew 20% In 2010 To $16.2 Billion

Non-profit group the PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) and market research firm DFC Intelligence claim the global PC games market grew 20 percent in 2010, generating a record $16.2 billion in revenue. In preliminary findings published from its third commissioned annual Horizons research report, the PCGA, a corporation dedicated to avocating the growth of PC gaming, says no geographical market segments showed a decline in PC game revenues in the past year. The report points out China as the "largest and fastest growing market for PC games" after hitting a record $4.8 billion for 2010. "Mature" game markets like Korea, Japan, United States, United Kingdom, and Germany grew a total of 19 percent last year to generate $7.3 billion. Global revenues for the PC gaming business are expected to continue increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 9 percent, reaching $23 billion by 2014. The PCGA says most of this growth will be driven by "the increasing ease of digital distribution delivery solutions and payment methods." "The spotlight has definitely shifted back to the PC game market," claims PCGA president and Intel analyst Matt Ployhar. "A few of the biggest factors fueling this movement are innovative business models making games more accessible with digital distribution, free to play, and online; along with game formats embracing the shifts occurring in the evolution of the PC ecosystem to remain more profitable Ployhar continues, "Large game publishers are looking at digital revenue on the PC game platform as one of their key areas of growth and it is clear that the performance of the PC game market in 2010 is resulting in substantial investment money flowing into the PC game business." The PCGA will share the full Horizons report, which was conducted by DFC Intelligence, with all PCGA members next week after the Game Developers Conference.