PC gaming US market hits $18.6 billion, up 15% year-on-year

By Brenna Hillier

The PC Gaming Alliance has some good news to share regarding the ever-growing PC market.

In the organisation’s annual Horizons report, compiled with the assistance of DFC Intelligence, the PC Gaming Alliance claims PC gaming software sales reached $18.6 Billion in the US in 2011. That’s a 15% increase on 2010’s figures.

Notably, none of the territories tracked by the report showed any decline. China continued a trend of massive PC gaming uptake by growing at almost double the rate of any other territory, increasing by 27% year-on-year to report $6 billion in revenue.

Germany, Japan, Korea the UK and US were also flagged for sudden surges, with a combined year-on-year revenue growth of 11% to $8 billion.

The growth of free-to-play games – especially League of Legends – and major investments in the social sphere were highlighted, byt the report made mention of some heavy-hitting traditional releases as well – Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Rift, Star Wars: The Old Republic and even Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, as well as FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer.

The report ended with a prediction that the PC market will only grow, increasing 37% by 2015 for a worth of $25.5 billion, driven by growing broadband access and digital delivery worldwide.

Thanks, EDGE. [image]