Research conducted by SuperData Research and Newzoo has uncovered some interesting information behind the ever-growing and competitive MMO-gaming market. According to the data obtained by both companies, the MMO industry is expected to surpass the $12 billion mark by the end 2012 and exceed $17 billion by 2015.
There are approximately 50 million MMO gamers in the US alone, 23 million of which spend money on free-to-play and subscription-based MMORPG’s (3% more than last year). This year, it is predicted that the average gamer will spend $127 on an MMO during the course of the year, an 11% increase from last year. In contrast to this slight monetary growth in the MMO-industry, the user is paying far less for individual titles, decreasing from $27 in October 2011 to $17 as of May 2012. However, it is explained that the decrease in price is encouraging gamers to buy more.
Germany is also seeing a breakthrough in the MMO market. It is estimated that Germany will see a $700 million growth in its market. With the surplus of gamers spending money in the industry, research concludes that Germany’s average MMO will drop slightly by 9%, bringing the annual costs down to about $100.
Free-to-play MMOs have also brought in their fair share of revenue. This year, free-to-play games have produced 50% of the total earnings in the US; and in Germany, free-to-play MMOs already broke the 50% mark in 2010. By 2015, that number might increase to 60%.
From the research provided by SuperData and Newzoo, it is evident that the MMO industry is growing rapidly. With special deals such as free-trial periods, irresistible in-game purchases, and increasing title selection, MMO’s have drawn the attention of gamers worldwide. It is no wonder that the MMO industry is worth billions of dollars today.
