IDG REPORTS
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IDG's 2024 Spotlight on the Opportunity Markets report offers comprehensive coverage of the gaming markets in China/Hong Kong, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Latin America, India, the Middle East/North Africa, and Türkiye. In addition to updated 5-year forecasts for the console, mobile, and PC gaming markets in each of these countries, IDG covers market developments by segment, including 2023's platform IBs, top titles, and top publishers (where available).
Released: June 20, 2024
The IDG May 2024 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity in the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A review of PlayStation's hardware strategy
An update on Meta's VR strategy and performance to date
IDG's thoughts on the new US law that has the potential to ban TikTok
An update on streaming trends in Q1 2024
An analysis of EA Sports FC 2024's performance compared to previous FIFA titles
Commentary on the latest news in the mobile third-party app store landscape
An updated Layoff Tracker
Released: May 31, 2024
The IDG April 2024 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity in the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A comprehensive review of Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile featuring an examination of its design and technical specs, and how it compared against Tencent-developed Call of Duty: Mobile in its launch week.
An investigation of how the minimum mobile hardware requirements of top-performing games have changed in the last 5 years alongside an evaluation of AAA console games' performance on mobile platforms.
A deep dive into World of Warcraft's evolution over the past eight years, including an analysis of the reception and subscriber trends for each expansion released, and an exploration of potential future directions for the timeless MMORPG.
A spotlight on Capcom's success in recent years, examining how the publisher differentiates itself from its Japanese peers.
A commentary on Apple's market-dominant position in the mobile app market
Updated Layoff Tracker
Released: April 26, 2024
The IDG March 2024 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A granular analysis of console hardware sales performance in 2023 across major gaming markets, with a spotlight on the console gaming market in MENA and Turkey and its challenges due to increasing ARPs
An examination of console publishers' growth strategies on Steam, including saturation levels, regional trends, and genre analysis, with an insight into best practices for releasing games on Steam
An analysis of live service game production, with a focus on Helldiver 2's performance metrics
Coverage of recent SVOD subscription trends and their impact on video game subscriptions
A glimpse into the influence of nostalgia on game streaming viewership in 2023
Released: March 28, 2024
The IDG February 2024 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global console gaming markets, including our first forecasts for 2028.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
An in-depth look at 2024's hit sensation, Palworld
An analysis of the strategies Take-Two Interactive has used to keep GTA V in the top title charts nearly 11 years after its launch
An overview of the PC handheld market and what the market opportunity looks like in this space
IDG's thoughts on some key announcements from Xbox and PlayStation on their 2024 plans
A deeper look at the changes coming to iOS/Android in the EU ahead of the DMA compliance deadline in March
An updated Layoff Tracker
Released: February 29, 2024
The IDG January 2024 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
The IDG team's collective prediction of trends expected to shape the games industry throughout the upcoming year
A detailed segmentation of the Xbox Game Pass library content, including Ultimate, Console, and PC Game Pass, and how it has evolved over the years
An analysis of software tie ratios (physical and digital) on current-gen consoles and how it differed from prior generations
A spotlight on the recent attempt to update regulations in China and its implications
An update on Netflix's mobile strategy and catalog
An examination of how layoffs are tracking thus far in 2024 and its implications for the future of the games industry
A look into the increasing market concentration among the top 10 console publishers
Released: January 31, 2024
IDG's December 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space.
Topics covered in the December 2023 Games Report include:
A review of the accuracy of IDG's predictions for 2023
An analysis of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III's launch and a critique of the game
A case study exploring the success of Monopoly GO!, including an analysis of its user acquisition strategy, core features, and monetization structure
An examination of inflationary pressure in the mobile gaming market in 2022-23, including an analysis of post-pandemic recovery on in-app purchase and consumer spending trends
A spotlight into Alan Wake II and Remedy Connected Universe.
A highlight of 2023's standout games across console, PC, and mobile
Released: December 19, 2023
The IDG November 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in the November 2023 Games Report include:
A spotlight on the recent attempt to update regulations in China and its implications
An overview of console deals leading into this year's holiday season
A deep-dive on genre patterns, including analysis of genre distribution and regional demographics, genre overlap and engagement trends across platforms, shared and distinctive features across genres, and concurrent playership patterns within genres
An updated forecast for the VR hardware market and accompanying rationales, with a discussion on the performance of the Meta Quest 2 and its competitive landscape
A review of Counter-Strike 2's launch performance, and an exploration of the motivations behind its release and potential future prospects
An analysis of Starfield's launch performance in comparison to other recent new IP releases, and a discussion on Microsoft's future in relation to first-party titles
An examination of Microsoft's Game Pass promises in light of Starfield's Early Access release and the implications of its release strategy
IDG's thoughts regarding the recent adjustments to Steam's regional currency policy
Released: November 27, 2023
IDG offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC and Mobile gaming markets.
Topics covered in the October 2023 Games Report include:
An exploration of UGC, and the platforms and pay models of the key players in the creator economy space
A spotlight on cloud gaming, including an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the major cloud gaming platforms, an overview of the overall cloud gaming market, and insights into its history and future
A study of how Street Fighter 6 successfully updated controller schemes to appeal to long-time fans and new audiences alike
An analysis of sales ratios for newer titles on the PS5 compared to the PS4, with a focus on attach rates for last-gen consoles
A deep dive into current monetization trends in terms of premium vs. free-to-play unit sales as well as add-on content
IDG's thoughts regarding the ongoing wave of layoffs within the gaming industry
Released: October 31, 2023
The IDG September 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
An in-depth analysis of game localization practices and trends across various platforms, along with a discussion on the use of AI technologies in the localization process
A detailed examination of the recent PlayStation Plus price increase, comparing its impact and competitiveness with Xbox Game Pass in key gaming markets
An exploration of how crowded release windows can impact the revenue for new releases during those quarters
An analysis of market trends and factors viewed through the lens of ESRB ratings
A recap of this year's Gamescom, including key highlights, M&A activity, and the future of E3
A discussion on the upcoming AAA console games coming to iPhone and their potential target demographics, and a look into evolving mobile gaming spending patterns
A look into Starfield's initial performance
Released: September 29, 2023
IDG offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in the May 2023 Games Report include:
A spotlight on Roblox's challenges in today's market despite its dominance in the youth gaming market
A closer look at Baldur's Gate 3's success factors and why it may be difficult for other studios to emulate in today's market
An update on the state of esports
A closer look at how mobile gaming performed in H1 2023
An analysis of toxicity in games, why it is such a persistent issue, and what is being done to combat it
IDG's initial thoughts on the upcoming PlayStation Portal Remote Play handheld
Released: August 31, 2023
The IDG July 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A comprehensive analysis of Xbox Game Pass, evaluating whether it is a net-positive for Microsoft, consumers, and the game industry as a whole
A closer look at Sony's foray into digital PC game distribution, assessing PlayStation game releases on Steam and the company's strategy on PC releases
IDG's review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and an analysis of the critics' vs. users' reviews
An overview of video game streamers who ventured into the game development or publishing space
Released: July 31, 2023
The IDG June 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
To coincide with Pride Month, IDG discusses how the inclusion of LGBQT+ characters in video games affects sales, along with best practices when it comes to representation in games.
An analysis of how an unprecedented level of market disruption may have impacted hardware pricing trends
An in-depth look at the state of generative AI usage in video game development and the many risks involved with it
An examination of the population and income trends by region, with a focus on the 20-34 age group
A closer look at Embracer’s embattled business, with a focus on their mobile games division's recent performance
An analysis of how the mobile app store landscape may be poised to change as more third-party app stores enter the market and the learnings from One Store, a South Korean 3rd party app store
A spotlight on the top 6 mobile games publishers YTD and what studios operate under their vast umbrellas
An examination of the physical-vs-digital software sales ratios of the three current-gen consoles
Released: June 30, 2023
IDG offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in the May 2023 Games Report include:
A discussion on the right and wrong ways of sunsetting games
An update on the MSFT-ATVI deal and IDG thoughts based on the latest news
A SWOT analysis on UGC
The status of AI regulation in different countries
A discussion on the rise of older gamers and what implications it brings to the industry
Released: May 31, 2023
IDG offers comprehensive coverage of the gaming markets in China/Hong Kong, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Latin America, India, the Middle East/North Africa, and Türkiye. In addition to updated 5-year forecasts for the console, mobile, and PC gaming markets in each of these countries, IDG covers market developments by segment, including 2022's platform IBs, top titles, and top publishers (where available).
Topics covered in the Spotlight on the Opportunity Markets report include:
How Google and Apple have been navigating South Korea's ban on anti-steering practices
What makes Southeast Asia's mobile market so attractive to foreign companies
An update on the growing influence of esports in Latam's games market
How India's mobile games market is poised for great growth
Why MENA and Turkiye's markets struggled last year in spite of their significant long-term potential
Released: May 26, 2023
The IDG April 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include, among others:
A summary of the top trends IDG observed at this year's GDC
A look into the growing concern surrounding game industry brain drain and the impact it may have on future games
An analysis of some of the key drivers behind the increasing dominance of top games in the console gaming market
A discussion of how recent events pertaining to the metaverse may shape the future of the games industry
IDG's thoughts on E3's cancellation, why it happened, and whether we still hold out hope for E3 to make a comeback
An updated analysis of Netflix's gaming strategy
A comparison of the global games industry's 5-year outlook compared to other entertainment verticals
Released: April 27, 2023
IDG's March 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
The potential impact generative AI may have on the games industry
An update on IDG's forecast for the VR market and thoughts about the rumored Apple VR product
A closer look at the key mobile gaming trends in 2022
A discussion of the surge of transmedia deals being announced
IDG's thoughts on Switch 2.0
An analysis of whether top games are capturing an increasing amount of market share in the console gaming market
Released: March 31, 2023
IDG's February 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A recap on the console market's performance during the holiday quarter
A closer look at the split between physical and digital game sales on console platforms in 2022, with detailed stats by platform and market
An updated forecast of the global cloud gaming market
An analysis of how PC gaming specification requirements have changed in recent years
Released: February 28, 2023
The IDG January 2023 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include, among others:
IDG analysts' predictions for trends we expect to see in the games industry throughout 2023 featuring topics including emerging sectors, monetization, marketing, technology, consumer behavior, and more
An analysis of Steam's recent regional price change and its possible consequences
A closer look at the hardware hurdles faced by gamers with disabilities and what is being done to address them
An overview of the evolution of Special Edition games bundles
Released: January 31, 2023
The IDG December 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A revisit of IDG's 2022 predictions at the beginning of the year, to see how they panned out
An analysis of free games given away on PC and Console services in 2022 & 2021 that examines the total retail value, critic score, release date, and ARPs of each service
A post-launch analysis of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that investigates the factors behind the financial success of the title and also its shortcomings
A closer look at the correlations between the number of mobile games released each year and the overall performance of the mobile market
A spotlight on top-performing mobile titles that were released in 2022
Released: December 15, 2022
IDG's November 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include, among others:
A closer look at how the games market has fared against previous recessions
A comparison of IDG's 2022 forecast at the beginning of the year vs. the current quarter's forecast
An analysis of hardware trends on PC and smartphone
An overview of cost-cutting measures carried out in the industry thus far
An in-depth explanation of why IDG's console hardware forecast seems so pessimistic
The impact of Apple's store policies on NFTs in the mobile Web3 gaming market
An analysis of Sony's announcements pertaining to the upcoming release of PlayStation VR2
A look at how Meta's Horizon Worlds is doing after a year since the company rebranded itself
IDG's thoughts on Phil Spencer's recent comments on Xbox's business strategy
Released: November 18, 2022
IDG's October 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include, among others:
An updated look at the economics of PC/console game development with highlights on key changes and the impact they have on the business of game-making
A spotlight on the sudden influx of dedicated handheld gaming products
A deep dive into the boom of video game-based TV show/movie adaptions and an analysis of the factors contributing to their success
IDG's thoughts on Stadia's shutdown and how it may impact the future of the cloud gaming market
An overview of trends in the VOD subscription space and what they mean for the gaming subscription business
Released: October 25, 2022
The IDG September 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A look into the success of Grand Theft Auto V highlighting a few underappreciated ingredients to the game's accomplishments
A closer look at the progress of cloud gaming on smart TVs
A highlight of Twitch's recent updates on its revenue share and the impact it may have on the platform
A recap of Gamescom 2022
An update on the status of Web3 market
A revisit of the economics of mobile game development with a focus on top performing games
Released: September 30, 2022
IDG's August 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global Console gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A post-mortem on Diablo Immortal and how it's had to perform a fine balancing act between the expectation of its core fanbase and that of mobile gamers
IDG's thoughts on how Activision Blizzard’s ongoing negative press may have an influence on the company’s recent earnings report
A deep dive into the success of MultiVersus and how it may help push forward the Fighting genre’s progress in adapting F2P models
An analysis on No Man’s Sky’s evolution since launch
A rare inside look into Tencent’s greenlight process
Insights into the growing sense of “platform anxiety” gamers today struggle with IDG's thoughts on the PS5 price increase
Released: August 31, 2022
IDG's July 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include, among others:
A deep-dive analysis of the impact of delayed titles on the release calendar over the next year
An updated look at the economics of mobile game development
A spotlight on the performance of AAA mobile games, comparing games that are native mobile IP versus those that come from a PC/console heritage
An analysis of how PlayStation Plus's new tiered subscription pricing schema varies by region
A study of Steam's Wishlist function and how it can serve as a predictor of a game's success
A spotlight on how a push in cross-gaming trends at the game engine level can move the market forward
An overview of gaming on Mac computers and the hurdles this market still has to overcome
Released: July 29, 2022
IDG's June 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global console gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
Overview of announcements coming out of Summer Game Fest 2022
Analysis of Game Pass's value proposition in the face of game delays
A deep-dive into Nintendo's demographic, breaking out the company's consumer base by age and looking at how changes in their target audience might be reflected in the company's future strategy
IDG's thoughts on Sony's vs. Microsoft's approach to subscriptions, regional prioritization and consumer sentiment
Update on how a "return to normal" is affecting the games market
A heat map comparing global game markets based on which is the dominant platform--mobile, console, or PC
Released: June 30, 2022
IDG's May 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global mobile gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
IDG's thoughts on the Embracer acquisition of Square Enix's IP
Predicting what comes next after the split between EA and FIFA
Analysis of major console publishers' efforts to expand into mobile gaming
Update on the aftereffects of the Great Resignation on the games market
Analyzing the impact of the Netherland's latest ruling on loot boxes
Insight into the evolution of in-game advertising
Released: May 31, 2022
IDG's Spotlight on the Opportunity Markets offers comprehensive coverage of the gaming markets in China/Hong Kong, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Latin America, India, Middle East/North Africa and Turkey. In addition to updated 5-year forecasts for the console, mobile and PC gaming markets in each of these countries, IDG covers market developments by segment, including 2021's platform IBs, top titles and top publishers (where available).
Released: May 13, 2022
IDG's April 2022 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity into the space. In addition, this report features updated forecasts for the global PC and VR gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
An analysis of the future of the VR market, including IDG's updated 5-year forecast
Coverage of the Axie Infinity hack and the industry’s shifting thoughts on Web3 technology
Details on PlayStation’s new PS Plus offering and an analysis of the company’s future strategy surrounding live service games
Insight into the industry-wide ramifications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine for developers and gamers alike, plus thoughts on the specific challenges some local companies in the region are facing
A retrospective on the Switch’s journey to becoming Nintendo’s best-selling console ever and how the Switch Lite helped the console sustain its popularity
A summary of how consumers have responded to the launch of the Steam Deck and how the platform’s open-source devkit could change paradigms in the gaming industry
Released: April 27, 2022
For more information on archived IDG reports from earlier years, please contact us at inquiries@idgconsulting.com.
The IDG June 2024 Games Report offers in-depth coverage of the global gaming market. This report features IDG's insights and analysis on key trends affecting the console, PC, and mobile gaming markets, along with thorough coverage of other news and M&A activity in the space. In addition, this report features an updated forecast for the global PC gaming market.
Topics covered in this quarter's update include:
A deep dive into Steam user growth trends through a monthly and quarterly lens, including a spotlight on the growth of Strategy games users.
An examination of the top 20 premium titles on Steam in H1 2024 and the reception of Indie/AA titles
A dissection of Steam GPU user shares and the performance of Nvidia GPUs
An assessment of the growing number of video game remakes and remasters
A high-level comparison of the games industry against other entertainment verticals
A recap of Summer Game Fest and gamers' impressions of the newly announced titles
An update on how the mobile games market continues to evolve towards more "core" genres
An updated Layoff Tracker
Released: June 28, 2024