Research Suggests $4.4 Billion Online Market In 2010

Research firm Parks Associates has announced that it will be releasing research details at the Austin Game Conference suggesting that the online game market in North America will grow from $1.1 billion in 2004 to $4.4 billion in 2010. Research shows that PC gamers in North America currently spend an average of 18.5 hours playing games each week, 4.9 hours more than console gamers, and 9.6 more hours than portable gamers. Statistics from DFC Intelligence, another research firm, show that the worldwide online game market is estimated to grow from $3.4 billion in 2005 to over $13 billion in 2011, due to increased broadband systems and connected video game consoles. We also have to take into account the XBOX 360 online market place, which allows users to download arcade games, expansions, themes, and user icons with the purchase of Microsoft Points. We have yet to see what the Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii hold for us online, but it will definitely put more console gamers online.

Online Market 2010 [gamasutra]