Value of the global video games market 2012-2021
This timeline presents a forecast of the value of the global video game market from 2012 to 2021. In 2018, the market was expected to be worth approximately 115 billion U.S. dollars and the source projects the industry revenues to surpass 138 billion by 2021.
Video game industry worldwide - additional information
In 1960s America, arcade video games were all the rage, as they provided the thrill of amusement-park entertainment without the travel time and costs. All one needed was to introduce a coin to a machine located within an amusement arcade, at the mall or in front of the local convenience store. The ‘70s, however, brought with them the personal computer hobby culture on a wider scale and home video game consoles slowly started to take over the video game market. Although arcade games are still popular in some areas of the world, console and computer games have become a powerful global industry.
Revenues in the gaming industry are based on two major sources, namely hardware, such as consoles, processors, screens, controllers and other accessories, and software – the actual games. Some of the most important players on the computer and video games publishing market are Sony Computer Entertainment (Japan), the current market leader - Tencent Holdings Limited (China), Microsoft (United States) and Nintendo Company Ltd. (Japan). Nintendo’s Wii Sports, a home video game console released in 2006, is also the best-selling console game in the world, with a little over 82.6 million units shipped worldwide, as of 2018, while the life simulation video game series, The Sims 3, is ranked as the best selling PC game of all times, with 7.96 million units sold worldwide.
Video game industry worldwide - additional information
In 1960s America, arcade video games were all the rage, as they provided the thrill of amusement-park entertainment without the travel time and costs. All one needed was to introduce a coin to a machine located within an amusement arcade, at the mall or in front of the local convenience store. The ‘70s, however, brought with them the personal computer hobby culture on a wider scale and home video game consoles slowly started to take over the video game market. Although arcade games are still popular in some areas of the world, console and computer games have become a powerful global industry.
Revenues in the gaming industry are based on two major sources, namely hardware, such as consoles, processors, screens, controllers and other accessories, and software – the actual games. Some of the most important players on the computer and video games publishing market are Sony Computer Entertainment (Japan), the current market leader - Tencent Holdings Limited (China), Microsoft (United States) and Nintendo Company Ltd. (Japan). Nintendo’s Wii Sports, a home video game console released in 2006, is also the best-selling console game in the world, with a little over 82.6 million units shipped worldwide, as of 2018, while the life simulation video game series, The Sims 3, is ranked as the best selling PC game of all times, with 7.96 million units sold worldwide.
