Mobile platforms will overtake consoles by 2019

Mar 3, 2015 14:53 GMT  ·  By

It would seem that PC gaming is not only alive and kicking, but that it's set to continue its solid growth over the course of the next few years.

The projection comes from game business analysis group Open Gaming Alliance, who claims that the PC gaming industry is set to grow to an astounding $35 / €31 billion, up from today's approximation of $26 / €23 billion.

The information is based on data collected by research firm DFC Intelligence, and the main reason behind the expected growth is the strong momentum of the eSports scene and of free-to-play games, according to the study published on VentureBeat.

Console gaming will also continue to grow, and the study predicts that it will peak in 2018, at over $30 / €27 billion, and then start a decline.

The study also predicts that mobile platforms will continue their rampant growth, at the cost of dedicated handheld gaming hardware, a market which will slowly but surely dwindle and fade in importance.

PC is growing worldwide

The report points to the PC market having had a very strong growth in Asia in the past, where the platform was embraced due to the abundance of free-to-play titles. The article estimates that there are now around 86 million PC gamers outside Asia, and that they will be the market growth drivers in the future.

Furthermore, consumers are spending not just on entertainment software but also on PC hardware and accessories, as many people are buying expensive equipment to play, view and record games and their gaming sessions.

Mobile gaming is predicted to equal console gaming by 2018 and to surpass it by 2019, which makes some sense because both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 will be five years old, with outdated hardware, at that point.