Report: Games' Growth Outpaces Other Entertainment, To Reach $21.6 Billion By 2013

Despite depressed share prices for most software publishers and a few consecutive months of double-digit declines in NPD numbers, the growth of the video game industry between now and 2013 will still outpace that of other media, finds PricewaterhouseCoopers. Excluding hardware sales, video game industry revenue in North America is set to grow 5.8 percent compounded annually, says a new report from the financial firm, which expects the industry to report $17.2 billion in sales this year -- and $21.6 billion by 2013. The growth projections incorporate an expected decline for PC game software alongside growing revenues for console, portable and downloadable titles. This means games are the standout in a challenging climate for entertainment and media segments -- compare PwC's games forecast to predictions of 5.5 percent growth for TV subscription and 3.3 percent for filmed entertainment. At the same time, book, magazine and newspaper publishing, and radio are expected to decline. The only segment growing faster than games is Internet access and online advertising, thanks to the conversion to broadband. The report expects in-game ads also to grow -- from $886 million this year to $1.4 billion by 2010.