Online gaming has exploded in popularity since its introduction in the 1990s, and with the creation of the Oculus Rift and other virtual reality headsets, we can expect even more growth. Here are some facts and stats about online gaming to put in context how big it really is.
Online Gaming Facts
• In 2007, people spent more than $25 billion playing games online
• That number grew to over $50 billion in 2009
• Online gaming revenue was over $16 billion in 2015
• In 2016, people spent over $20 billion on mobile gaming
• The next 5-10 years will see the introduction of the VR headset, which will increase that number by an order of magnitude
As an industry, there are over 25 million game developers who create games ranging from online to mobile to PC. Online game companies employ an estimated 730,000 full-time employees worldwide and more than 7.5 million people play online games on a regular basis.
That said, it's important to understand that not all online games are created equal. For example, the World of Warcraft subscription fee can cost anywhere from $6 to $15 per month. On the other hand, a player can play Clash of Clans without spending anything at all.
In terms of scale, the largest online gaming company is Blizzard, with an annual revenue of $4 billion. To put that into perspective, that is nearly half the amount Apple earns in an entire quarter. If Blizzard were a country, it would be the 8th largest in the world in terms of total revenue.
There are a wide variety of different categories in the world of online gaming. This includes role-playing games, strategy games, multiplayer games, and more.
What Is Online Gaming?
Online gaming started as early as the 1970s, but its origins can be traced back to the 1930s when radio games began to popularize. Early forms of video games were released in the late 1980s as text based games like "Zork" and "Maze War." These days, however, there are a number of different ways for people to connect with other players through games. From text based social games, to massively multiplayer online games, and even the ever-popular first person shooter games, online gaming continues to grow.
Who Plays Online Games?
Today, there are over 1.5 billion active monthly users worldwide playing online games on a regular basis. People who play online games tend to be young adults between the ages of 18-49. This demographic is referred to as the Millennial Generation, a term for anyone born between the mid-1980s and 2000s.
How Much Do Online Games Cost?
The total cost of online gaming is split into three components. First, there is the development cost, which can range from free to a few thousand dollars. The second component is distribution costs, including online payment methods, servers, and marketing efforts. Finally, the third component is maintenance costs, which vary by game type and can be as high as 10% of
I’m not much of a gamer.