Revenues from the sale of video games in the United States will reach $20.5 billion for 2013, with the majority of sales generated digitally and not in stores, according to gaming research firm Newzoo.
In a new report released Thursday, Newzoo said that 65% of all U.S. game revenues, amounting to $13.3 billion, are generated digitally through gaming on consoles, PCs, smartphones and tablets. Approximately 31% of revenues, or $6.4 billion, come from retail sales of new boxed games, and approximately 4% from sales of pre-owned games.
Retail game sales are expected to be down 10% from 2012, but that's a significant improvement compared to a 21% decline from 2011 to 2012, according to the firm. Digital revenue growth will be up 10%, making total U.S. game market revenue up 2%.
Other highlights from the report:
• 170 million American consumers play video games, and 60% of them spend money to do so. That's 100 million paying gamers with an average monthly spend of $16.50. Only China boasts more paying gamers, but at half the average spend.
• Tablet gaming is America’s fastest growing market segment, with a global compound annual growth rate towards 2016 of 47.6%. Android devices are rapidly catching up on Apple's iOS, but Apple still leads the market and will so at least through 2014.
• Over 40 million American gamers play on all four screens: TV, computer, phone, and tablet/handheld. Only two years ago this number was at 30 million gamers. Only China and Spain have a higher share of gamers that use all four screens.
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