Online Gaming Subscribers to Increase 20%, While Game Console Equipment Sales Fall

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 9, 2009 - While video game console shipments decline during the global recession, growth in online gaming subscriptions is expected to be strong due to a sizable console installed base and growing consumer awareness of online gaming, reports In-Stat http://www.in-stat.com. Console and handheld subscriber growth combined will grow a projected 20.4% between 2005 and 2013.

“Unit sales of game console will decline moving into 2010, as a result of both the weak economy and a peak in each vendor’s video game console lifecycle,” says Stephanie Ethier, In-Stat analyst. “The key vendors, including Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are staking out their online strategy to generate incremental revenue and promote brand loyalty.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Each of the three key vendors is positioned to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual online gaming revenue from online service subscriptions, download revenue and/or online advertising.
  
• Microsoft’s Xbox Live service will clearly lead, with projected revenue of over $1 billion in revenue annually by 2013.  
  
• Worldwide broadband subscriptions will reach 562 million in 2009.  The combination of broadband, installed home networks, and pervasive Wi-Fi in gaming devices, is fueling online gaming subscriber growth.
  
• In 2008, total video game console unit shipments reached 88 million worldwide, up 7% from worldwide unit shipments in 2007.

Recent In-Stat research, Despite Slowing Console Sales, Online Gaming Subscriber Growth Continues Worldwide(#IN0904503ID), covers the worldwide market for online gaming. It does not forecast PC online gaming or casual gaming. It includes:

• Forecasts for online game subscribers annually through 2013.
• Revenue and subscriber forecasts for each console include an annual console installed base, the number of subscribers (free or paid), subscription revenue, paid download revenue, and online ad revenue.
• Analyses of the online console strategies of Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony, as well as the online handheld strategies of Nintendo and Sony.

More n00bs to pwn in KZ2. Hurraz! ... and more laggers... :(

@786 I have magic lag. Often I would move around and the other guy would turn the wrong way and let me shoot him in the back.

This is bound to increase over time, as games become more multiplayer-centric and more people buy ps3s which have free multiplayer

Or it could be people in New Zealand and Paikistan who are lagging it :)

I won't comment on your post, but you'll be pleased to know that you've been reported for both trolling and racism

^ Im from New Zealand and I was playing the beta of KZ2 on European servers...

Squilliam said: ^ Im from New Zealand and I was playing the beta of KZ2 on European servers...

I also play on european servers. They seem to have the most games and the least lag.

I like the European servers too. They seem to take gaming a little more seriously over there IMHO.

It's because they've been taken over by the Chimera