There are 208 million PC gamers and 288 million mobile gamers in mainland China.
Niko Partners has released a new report, Chinese Gamers Report 2013, that shows that Chinese gamers are savvy, discerning, opportunistic, and hungry for gaming on all platforms. There are 208 million PC gamers and 288 million mobile gamers in mainland China in 2013.
China has seen iCafe gaming fall from the top spot to below offices as a key gaming location. Now only 17% of play is in iCafe, versus 19% in office/work and 64% at home. This latest milestone in the downward trend has implications on everything from spending habits to how gamers select games.
Gamers’ #1 reason for game selection is "best in genre," which is much different from two years ago, when "what friends are playing" was #1. Gamers’ discerning tastes have become even more demanding in those two years will continue to affect the market for games, hardware, and accessories.
WeChat is a market changer. WeChat Game Center has added a new channel to games distribution in a market where nearly 300 million people already play games – nearly as many people as the total population of the United States. While there are limited games, it has been growing, and has been immensely popular, even among hardcore gamers. A key reason for the appeal is social functionality. Looking forward, this could point to not only an opportunity for Tencent to build on the Wechat success, but a key trend for other games.
