Digital PC Games Global Market Report 2024

The digital pc games market size has grown rapidly in recent years. It will grow from $11.99 billion in 2023 to $13.63 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6%. The growth observed during the historical period can be credited to factors such as digital distribution platforms, widespread internet connectivity, the convenience and accessibility they offer, and the regular updates and patches provided to users.

The digital pc games market size is expected to see rapid growth in the next few years. It will grow to $22.98 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.0%.

The anticipated growth in the forecast period can be linked to several factors, including the expansion of game libraries and backlogs, the emergence of new markets, the popularity of live services and microtransactions, and the rise of cloud gaming. Prominent trends in the forecast period encompass the dominance of digital distribution, the increasing prevalence of cloud gaming services, the presence of platforms such as the Epic Games Store, and heightened competition within subscription services.

The primary platforms for digital PC games include Windows, iOS, and other operating systems. iOS stands out as a mobile operating system specifically designed and developed for Apple Inc.'s hardware. Different game subscription models, such as premium and freemium, cater to a wide range of players, including social gamers, serious gamers, and core gamers.

The digital PC games market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides digital PC games market statistics, including digital PC games industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a digital PC games market share, detailed digital PC games market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the digital PC games industry. This digital PC games market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The digital PC game market is experiencing growth driven by the increasing demand for digital access to PC games. The convenience, cross-buying options, and easy storage offered by digital distribution are motivating players to opt for digital access to PC games. Gamers can access pre-loaded games when they pre-order them, ensuring immediate access upon their release. A survey conducted by GameIndustry.biz in collaboration with Ipsos revealed that 30% of respondents chose digital purchases due to lower prices, while 20% were enticed by discounts. Additionally, 15% preferred immediate access to games available on other platforms, and 7% opted for pre-ordering to gain access as soon as games hit the market. The rising demand for digital distribution is expected to drive the digital PC game market.

The growth of the digital PC game market is further fueled by the increasing number of online gamers. Online gamers engage in video games and interactive gaming experiences over the internet, benefiting from convenience, quick access, and potential multiplayer interactions. For example, a study by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) in June 2022 revealed that individuals aged 13 to 64 spent approximately one hour per day on online gaming activities. Furthermore, there was a significant 25% increase in online gaming time, particularly among those in the 55-64 age group in 2021. Therefore, the growing online gamer community is expected to boost demand in the digital PC game market.

The market faces a significant obstacle in the form of piracy of digital PC games. Piracy involves the unauthorized reproduction of digital game content, resulting in revenue loss and hindering market growth. For instance, Irdeto reported 355,664 torrent downloads of a major sports title on a pay-to-play (P2P) network, potentially causing a loss of $21.34 million. Piracy poses a major threat, especially if games are compromised within two weeks of their launch, resulting in substantial revenue losses.

A noteworthy trend in the digital PC game market is the emergence of cloud gaming. Cloud gaming is a disruptive platform where games are hosted on provider servers and then streamed to users, expanding access to premium games without the need for hardware upgrades. For instance, in September 2022, M1 Limited introduced Zolaz, a cloud gaming subscription service that allows customers to play games on any device at any time. Subscribers gain instant and unlimited access to over 400 high-quality PC and console titles, including those from AAA publishers. The cloud gaming subscription costs SGD 14.98 per month with no contract.

Major companies in the digital PC game market are exploring advanced distribution solutions, like Ultra Games, to expand their customer base and gain a competitive edge. Ultra Games is a blockchain-powered PC game store leveraging Web3 technology to introduce features like digital game reselling and enhanced developer revenue opportunities. For instance, Ultra Software Corporation unveiled Ultra Games in April 2023, aiming to reduce fees, create additional revenue streams for developers, establish true player ownership, and enhance community-building and engagement tools.

In July 2021, Sony Interactive Entertainment acquired Nixxes Software B.V., enabling them to port more PlayStation games to PCs. Nixxes Software B.V. specializes in video game design, development, and porting and is based in the Netherlands.

Major companies operating in the digital pc games market include Tencent Holdings Limited, Ubisoft Entertainment SA, King Digital Entertainment Limited, Activision Blizzard Inc., Zynga Inc., GungHo Online Entertainment Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Sony Corporation, Nintendo Co. Ltd., Electronic Arts Inc., Amazon Game Studios Inc., ArenaNet LLC, Behaviour Interactive Inc., Bethesda Softworks LLC, BioWare Corp., Bungie Inc., Capcom Co. Ltd., CD Projekt Red SA, Cloud Imperium Games Corporation, Cryptic Studios LLC, Daybreak Game Company LLC, Digital Extremes Ltd., Epic Games Inc., Firaxis Games Inc., Frontier Developments PLC, Gearbox Software LLC, Hi-Rez Studios LLC, id Software LLC, Infinity Ward Inc., Jagex Limited, Klei Entertainment Inc., Konami Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd., MachineGames Sweden AB, Mojang Studios AB, Naughty Dog LLC, NetEase Games, Niantic Inc., Ninja Theory Ltd., Obsidian Entertainment Inc., Phoenix Labs Inc., Psyonix Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the digital PC games market in 2023. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the digital PC games market report during the forecast period. The regions covered in the digital pc games market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa

The countries covered in the digital pc games market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Italy, Spain, Canada

The digital PC games market includes revenues earned by entities by providing design, documentation, installation and support services, and producing and distributing digital video games which are played on a personal computer or laptop. The virtual environment provided by the digital PC games does not limit players by physical space or hands-on access but considers a wide range of cultural and media activities based on digital technologies. Digital PC games have integrated different features such as voice recognition, 3D gaming, GPS tracking and many more to provide players with real-life experiences. Values in this market are factory gate values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.


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