MMORPGs are no longer the favorite genre for Chinese gamers, according to new report from Niko Partners.
Niko Partners has released its latest Asian Games Market Intelligence report, entitled Location of Gameplay and Gaming Hardware 2013. This new market update offers detailed data on gamer preferences, actual behavior and installed PC hardware details for the booming Chinese video game market.
Key takeaways from the new report include: The majority of PC online games revenue is now generated from home-based gameplay rather than Internet cafe gameplay; AMD continues to gain share among the installed base of systems in Internet Cafés; Among home gamers, Lenovo continues to dominate, along with several other local vendors, displacing other global brands. While tablets and other mobile devices are growing in usage, gamers still expect to purchase new PCs to replace aging systems. Internet cafe gamers are playing more shooter and battle arena games than MMORPGs, which had previously dominated I-cafe gameplay.
“Internet cafes remain important for utilitarian usage as well as social usage, but the majority of PC online games revenue is generated from home-based gameplay rather than I-café gameplay,” said Kevin Hause, senior partner of Niko Partners. “Further, we notice that shooter games and battle arena games have led gamers back to I-cafés for social competition more so than MMORPGs do.”
Based on Niko’s quarterly home gamer surveys, Internet café games system and usage data, and Top Ten games lists, this report provides one of the most detailed looks at the Chinese gamer and their systems. Beyond the general trend towards more game play in the home, we also detail the impact that mobile gaming is having on behavior, expectations, and preferences. This is critical analysis for any online game company, PC hardware maker, components maker, service provider, or institutional investor with an eye on China.
Data for this report includes specific market shares for Internet Café systems, including CPU, GPU, and other data; as well as detailed Internet Café gaming usage data and survey information on Gamer behavior. The Internet Café hardware data is based on actual system data from over 25,000 active systems across Tier 1 and 2 cities in China, while the survey information is based on the quarterly survey of 2,000 home gamers.
Niko Partners is the leader in Asian Games Market Intelligence, specializing in the Chinese and Southeast Asian game markets. Founded in 2002 and in its 11th year of detailed analysis on the Chinese market, the firm conducts syndicated and custom research studies on Chinese gamers, Southeast Asian gamers, online games, offline games, consoles, handhelds, regulatory issues, piracy, development, online operators, distribution, and retail. Niko Partners also offers consulting services including focus groups, partnership selection, market opportunity analysis, custom surveys in cities throughout China and the Asia-Pacific region and customized data analysis. The goal of the research and strategic advisory services is to help understand the market, strategically enter or expand market share, and continue to profitably grow within China and Southeast Asia’s impressive markets.
