Online gaming is booming worldwide and gaming fans are likely going to spend a big pile of cash on games this year.
In a report titled, "Global Online Gaming Market 2015," Hamburg-based global E-Commerce intelligence company yStats.com highlights mobile as the fastest growing and most promising segment of digital gaming worldwide, while social gaming plays a significant role, too.
According to study from research firm Newzoo, the global gaming market is slated to reach a whopping $91.5 billion this year. That will represent a 9.4 percent hike compared to last year's $83.6 billion. While revenues will reportedly increase on PCs, consoles and tablets, smartphones will lead the way with a 21 percent growth over the year. Spending on PCs and Mac, which comprises of traditional retail, downloads from the Steam digital distribution store and free-to-play huge games like "League of Legends," will still outrun all other categories.
Newzoo explains that the cash is shifting to other kinds of games in the wake of markets like social and handheld gaming shrinking.
The report further claims that China, which is already one of the biggest markets for gaming, is slated to grow even larger. According to Newzoo, Chinese revenues will grow by around 23 percent in 2015 and that could move it into first place, even ahead of U.S., as the top country as far as game-related spending is concerned.
If Newzoo's predictions will withstand, China would bring in around $22.2 billion compared to the $22 billion for the United States.
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region will also some major growth. This will continue to come, like it does in China, from PC and mobile gaming. Consoles will still make most of their money from Japan, Europe and North America.
Newzoo claims that the global gaming revenue will reach a staggering $107 billion by 2017. This will eventually happen when smartphones have likely matured and new virtual-reality and smart watch platforms have either proven their viability or not. In case either takes off in a huge way, they could lead to an exponential increase in revenues, Newzoo, however, is not betting on that at this point.
Newzoo's upcoming 2015 Global Games Market report will include all of this information and more when it goes live June 8.
