Western online games revenues to double by 2007

A new report from leading market research firm Screen Digest has indicated that the online PC games market in the West will more than double in size by 2007, with revenues growing to over $2 billion.

Revenues from PC online games are expected to exceed $1 billion in North America and Europe during 2004, and growth in a number of key areas will drive the doubling of those revenues in the following three years - including the MMOG market, pay-per-play browser gaming, gaming on demand and casual game service advertising.

Screen Digest anticipates that while pay-per-play browser gaming is the most exciting new sub-sector of online gaming, growing from $35 million in 2000 to $137 million last year, and projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 40 per cent to 2007, growth will also be seen in all other sectors of the marketplace.

Massively multiplayer online games will continue to be the largest single element of the PC online games market, with Europe becoming the largest growth opportunity in the next two years as the US market reaches a saturation point. However, the authors of the report do warn that despite the growth potential of this area, there are also concerns regarding over-supply and a reappraisal of models and pricing strategies may be required.

Titled "Online Gaming Markets to 2007: The New Growth Opportunities," the 84 page report covers all aspects of the market in great depth - with topics ranging from the two key sectors discussed through to monetising on casual games services via subscriptions or advertising, the growth of games on demand, and vital demographic statistics on the uptake of online games in different markets.

A full copy of the report can be acquired by [ordering it through GamesIndustry.biz' new research purchasing system].