Mobile games disrupt PC-based casual and social games and hardcore web games disrupt MMORPGs.
Niko Partners new China’s PC Online Games Market Report offers the latest market update with detailed market size, five-year forecast, and analysis of the MMORPG, MMO non-RPG, web game, and casual and social game segments. The report highlights key trends and actionable insights based on Niko’s frequent gamer surveys, interviews, Internet café games usage data and Top Ten games lists. Topics include the surge in demand for web games and shooter games, a sharp fall-off in demand for casual and social games on the PC (as Chinese gamers embrace the mobile platform to play those games), and analysis of trends such as which segments have peaked and which provide opportunity for foreign and domestic game developers.
“China’s PC online games market has grown from $10 million in 2001 to more than $9 billion as of the end of 2012,” said Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner of Niko Partners. “Some industry observers say that because MMORPGs have given way to other genres the market is done. This is definitely not true.”
Key takeaways from Niko’s China’s PC Online Games Market Report include:
18-24 year-old males flock to the shooters and other games, even bringing life back to the waning Internet café environment that has been in decline as home PC and broadband penetration climb throughout the country.
Tencent dominates the MMO non-RPG category and continues to dominate the Chinese PC online games industry.
Revenue growth rate is slowing annually in the next 5 years, but each year the market will add more than $2 billion in revenue practically rendering the slow down irrelevant.
