Online Gaming Market by Model (Free-to-play, Pay-to-play), Genre, Revenue Stream (Media & Broadcasting Rights, Advertisement & Sponsorships, Others), Platform, Streaming (Live Streaming, On-demand Streaming) and Geography—Global Forecast to 2030

Online Gaming Market is expected to reach $431.87 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period of 2023–2030. The growth of this market is driven by the rise in the popularity of online gaming, a surge in the use of smartphones for online gaming, and the gradual establishment of internet infrastructure in developing countries. However, a lack of standards and regulations can restrain the market growth.

In addition, the creation of new monetization models and in-game advertisements and sponsorships are expected to offer significant opportunities for the growth of this market.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Online Gaming Market

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the worldwide economy. Governments worldwide imposed countrywide lockdowns to control the spread of the infection. The lockdown restrictions impacted manufacturing operations, with production facilities either completely shutting down or running at reduced capacities to ensure social distancing and employee safety. Most industries came to a standstill due to raw material & workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and restrictions on international trade. One area that has been relatively unaffected during the pandemic is the gaming industry, with user engagement growing considerably during this period

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the gaming industry witnessed an unprecedented surge in consumer demand and faced various challenges. For instance, the American telecommunications company Verizon reported a 75% increase in online gaming traffic during peak hours, compared to a 12% increase in digital video traffic and a 20% increase in web traffic. Similarly, WinZo Games (India) reported three times more user engagement and 30% higher traffic in online mobile gaming. Around 35% higher usage has been observed in multiplayer modes than in single-user modes. Similarly, Paytm First Games, an Indian mobile-based online gaming platform, reported an almost 200% increase in the user base during the pandemic, with 75,000 new users.

Apart from the COVID-19 lockdowns, people’s increased interest in online gaming was attributed to the anticipated launch of new titles and next-generation consoles. According to WeForum, Asian gaming giants Nintendo (Japan) and Tencent (China) saw increased sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Tencent witnessed a year-on-year increase of 31% in revenue from its online games. Gaming companies had to adjust rapidly to this unprecedented growth as further growth is expected in the coming years. Thus, the gaming industry proved resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the significant increase in demand for online gaming.

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The rising Popularity of Online Gaming is Expected to Drive Market Growth

The online gaming industry has grown rapidly during the last decade. The popularity of online gaming is largely attributed to its convenience and accessibility. Currently, the number of online gamers is increasing four times faster compared to the number of internet users. Globally, gamers spend more of their spare time online due to increased bandwidth and connectivity.

The accessibility of online games is increasing as people no longer must visit specific websites to play their favorite games online and can do so using gaming consoles or smartphones. Online game has become a great source of entertainment for people around the world. Online gaming also provides an excellent opportunity for players to interact with other players around the world.

The rapid growth and increasing popularity of online gaming have led to the advent of competitive gaming events. Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter have also started offering free-to-play online multiplayer games. Online video games offer users an immersive experience, particularly due to technological improvements in gaming hardware & software. Increasing smartphone penetration and the affordability of mobile data have driven an increase in mobile online gaming. Also, the increasing integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as AR/VR and cloud, has enhanced customers’ gaming experience, driving the growth of this market.

Key Findings in the Online Gaming Market Study:

In 2023, the Free-to-Play Segment is Expected to Dominate the Online Gaming Market

Based on model, the global online game market is segmented into free-to-play games and pay-to-play games. In 2023, the free-to-play segment is expected to account for the larger share of the global online gaming market. The growth of this segment is attributed to digital entertainment mediums, the rise in the number of smartphone users and the increasing usage of the internet across the globe. However, the pay-to-play segment is slated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

In 2023, the Action-adventure Segment is Expected to Dominate the Online Gaming Market

Based on genre, the global online game market is segmented into action/adventure, sandbox, simulation and sports, role-playing, player vs. player, multiplayer online battle arena, real-time strategy, shooters, racing, puzzlers and party games, survival horror and other genres. In 2023, the action-adventure segment is expected to account for the largest share of the global online gaming market during the forecast period. The large market share of this segment is attributed to technologies such as VR and AR to improve the gaming experience. However, the shooters segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on geography, the online gaming market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). In 2023, Asia-Pacific is expected to account for the largest share of the online gaming market. The large market share of Asia Pacific is mainly attributed to the high focus of gaming companies on game development in China, Japan, South Korea, and India and the deployment of multiple tactics and strategies by China’s game developers to attract users and integrate social media networks with games.

Key Players

The report includes a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the key growth strategies adopted by the leading market participants in the online gaming industry between 2020 and 2022. The key players profiled in the online gaming industry report are Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), Activision Blizzard, Inc. (U.S.), Apple Inc. (U.S.), Electronic Arts Inc. (U.S.), Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Japan), Capcom Co., Ltd. (Japan), SEGA (U.S.), Rovio Entertainment Corporation (Finland), Gungho Online Entertainment (Japan), Ubisoft Entertainment (Japan), Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Japan), SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. (Japan), Gameloft (France), iTechArt (U.S.), Amazon.Com, Inc. (U.S.), and Tencent Holdings Ltd. (China).

Scope of the report:

Online Gaming Market, by Model                

• Free-to-play Games              
• Pay-to-Play Games

Online Gaming Market, by Genre

• Action/Adventure
• Sandbox
• Simulation and Sports
• Role-playing
• Player VS. Player
• Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
• Real-time Strategy
• Shooters
• Racing
• Puzzlers and Party Games
• Survival Horror
• Other Genres

Online Gaming Market, by Revenue Stream

• Advertisements & Sponsorships
• Game Publisher Fees
• Media & Broadcasting Rights
• Ticket Sales
• Merchandise Sales              

Online Gaming Market, by Platform

• Mobile Platforms 
  • Tablet Games
  • Smartphone Games
• PCs 
  • Browser PC Games
  • Boxed/Downloadable PC Games
• Consoles
• Other Platforms

Online Gaming Market, by Streaming              

• Live Streaming
• On-demand Streaming         

Online Games Market, by Geography

• North America 
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe 
  • U.K.
  • Germany
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Netherlands
  • Denmark
  • Rest of Europe
• Asia-Pacific 
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • South Korea
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
  • Philippines
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East & Africa

Key questions answered in the report: