Global PC games market revenue overtakes consoles

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

According to market analysts at DFC Intelligence the PC games market now generates more revenue globally than the console games market can muster. A DFC analyst, in an interview with PCR, points out how the times have changed. Consoles are now seen as a prestige item, where as PCs, which can also play games, are increasing becoming a device that people need, and are cheaper to build, especially gaming rigs...

MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) and free-to-play games were also deemed as the most popular and best performing genre on the PC gaming platform, according to DFC's recently published quarterly report on PC gaming revenues and usage.

These high performing games are what continues to push PC gaming above expectations in revenue, despite the lack of big new releases on the PC platform and the release of new consoles during the recent holiday season. The lack of new AAA releases also did not affect the average play time last year, which Cole believes bodes well for growth this year.

The increasing popularity of PC gaming in Europe and crossover titles have been a big driver of positive PC trends. "There is a blurring of platforms where it starts to get hard to define what is a PC and what is a mobile device," Cole explained. "Hearthstone was a great example of this as it released for both PC and iPad. Not all games fit that model but as we mentioned core gamers now tend to play on multiple devices."

More [here]

 

[RK47]

free-to-play games were also deemed as the most popular and best performing

best performing in what sense? Generate revenue?

 

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

I'm not sure, would have to get a copy of DFC's quarterly report detailing PC gaming revenue and usage to make sense of that statement. TBH, I have no experience with F2P and can't really comment on how they work... I guess microtransactions generate tons of revenue?!?

-EDIT-

maybe they meant in terms of "usage"...

 

[StaticSpine]

Well, in this analysis tablets and smartphones are considered PCs as far as I see. I don't think it's the right thing to do.

 

[Average Manatee]

MOBA

Please die.

 

[chestburster]

And Xbox/PS4 is going to be officially released in China soon. --China is the second largest market for movies. --I imagine when consoles are released there, China is also going to become the second largest console game market.

That market is currently dominated 100% by F2P PC games. The imminent shrinking of the PC market is inevitable.

 

[Destroid]

If all they play are F2P PC games, why would they buy console games at $50 a copy.

 

[DalekFlay]

PS4 is selling like crack cocaine. The market will shift back to consoles here soon, and all attention will be on them for 2-3 years until the PC flexes its muscles again. The same cycle repeats again and again, at least in the "AAA" mainstream media and sales. Luckily we have tons of indie and small developer incline coming, and I am sure many a Codexer would say "fuck AAA" (and then continue to whine about AAA games not being for them anyway).

 

[Flying_Dutchman]

The same happens at every console generation shift. Things will get back to "normal" soon. Then again, PC gaming is much stronger in contrast to era of past generation consoles when every possible magazine and web site predicted the death of PC gaming.

I mean, just look at this shit:

 

[jcd]

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[Azalin]

 

[DalekFlay]

Yeah, the "PC gaming is dead!" stuff really hot super insane in the first few years of Xbox 360 life this time around. I don't think it will be that bad again this time, mostly because of indie stuff and Kickstarter and whatnot.

It's funny these "analysts" are so gullible and dumb though.

 

[DragoFireheart]

Yeah, the "PC gaming is dead!" stuff really hot super insane in the first few years of Xbox 360 life this time around. I don't think it will be that bad again this time, mostly because of indie stuff and Kickstarter and whatnot.

It's funny these "analysts" are so gullible and dumb though.

Neither console nor pc gaming will die. There will always be a demand for custom tower of MAJESTIC graphics and there will always be a demand for a lesser system but easier to use.

 

[chestburster]

If all they play are F2P PC games, why would they buy console games at $50 a copy.

Because "F2P" ain't actually "free"?

 

[Markman]

There's a report called Nordic Games Sales for number lovers where they say for the first time ever digital downloads took over traditional purchases in Scandinavia. Released two weeks ago or something.
If you like numbers check it out:
Saw the news at http://www.sweclockers.com/nyhet/18...spelforsaljning-digital-distribution-tar-over
Full report (in english): http://dataspelsbranschen.se/media/135759/nordic_game_sales_2013.pdf

 

[tuluse]

PS4 is selling like crack cocaine. The market will shift back to consoles here soon, and all attention will be on them for 2-3 years until the PC flexes its muscles again. The same cycle repeats again and again, at least in the "AAA" mainstream media and sales. Luckily we have tons of indie and small developer incline coming, and I am sure many a Codexer would say "fuck AAA" (and then continue to whine about AAA games not being for them anyway).

I don't think this is the same. The PS2 was a money printing machine and I think by itself was outclassing PC sales for pretty much it's entire life.

That's what lead to the PC is dying fad. This is the first generation launch where people are thinking that consoles might be dying.

 

[chestburster]

This is the first generation launch where people are thinking that Microsoft/Sony's consoles might be dying.

Fixed it for ya.

Otherwise Amazon must be stupid to enter the console market right now.

 

[DalekFlay]

That's what lead to the PC is dying fad. This is the first generation launch where people are thinking that consoles might be dying.

I've definitely heard the "consoles dying" thing for a while now. Mostly due to mobile though, not PC. In either case PS4 and even Xbone sales are refuting that, both are selling extremely well.

 

[tuluse]

Fixed it for ya.

Otherwise Amazon must be stupid to enter the console market right now.

A set top box Android is not a traditional console and I'm pretty sure Amazon intends to use it primarily to deliver video content.

I'm also 100% sure it will not sell 200 million units like the PS2 did.

 

[Cowboy Moment]

PS4 is selling like crack cocaine. The market will shift back to consoles here soon, and all attention will be on them for 2-3 years until the PC flexes its muscles again. The same cycle repeats again and again, at least in the "AAA" mainstream media and sales. Luckily we have tons of indie and small developer incline coming, and I am sure many a Codexer would say "fuck AAA" (and then continue to whine about AAA games not being for them anyway).

AAA multiplatform shit has always sold better on consoles (on average), PS4 and XBone are unlikely to change anything here. However, to think they will eclipse these F2P games is, I would say, extremely optimistic. League of Legends alone has twice as many daily active players as both next-gen consoles have sold thus far, combined. And it's not even the largest game on this list.

 

[Kleptocratic debt serf]

MOBA

Please die.

I have to agree with your sentiment, hell, I hadn't even heard the term before reading the article(granted I only play SP *predominantly RPG/strategy* PC games these days)...

fuck consolekiddies
fuck tablets
fuck smartphones
fuck f2p garbage
fuck mmo

this is why we can't have nice things

At least the last one on your list seems to be in decline, with any luck it will prove terminal. The only one I see as a potential threat to having nice things is the F2P garbage, tablets and smartphones can't really compete and only siphon off the most casual casuals... Hell maybe they'll even come to function as a gateway on neonates journey to cRPG nirvana?

Anyway, the one thing I want to take away from the article is that, perhaps, mainstream AAA titles are in danger. Or at least their old model of creating expensive shiny new shit - while sacrificing creativity, the old ways and generally interesting gameplay. But, I have to give Activision credit, it would seem they are pot committed at this point...

Activision Is Reportedly Spending Half a Billion on a Single Game

http://time.com/89407/activision-destiny-to-cost-500-million/

 

[Drakron]

I don't think this is the same. The PS2 was a money printing machine and I think by itself was outclassing PC sales for pretty much it's entire life.

That's what lead to the PC is dying fad. This is the first generation launch where people are thinking that consoles might be dying.

Correct, the PS2 had a hell of a position when it started, a lot of its success was due to be also being a DVD player when DVD started out so the "media center" idea that was in the PSP and PS3 had its roots on the PS2 initial success, too bad they didnt realized that the move from VHS tapes to DVD was a very big leap as neither the PSP or the PS3 offered such a leap in media.

The PS4 might be selling but with a recession and not being anything but a natural evolutionary step its not really going to do as well as the PS2, its going to naturally be hold back by Sony insistence of proprietary and how Smart TVs are replacing media centers, it will be a gaming console ... not the media center Sony hoped that the PS3 would be and they still hold those hopes for the PS4.