4 ms·
> PC gaming is dying the slow death of piracy and activation No. No it is not, will everyone please stop spreading this unfounded misinformation. The PC marke
by NickPollard 16y ago
> PC gaming is dying the slow death of piracy and activation
No. No it is not, will everyone please stop spreading this unfounded misinformation.
The PC market is in rude health and growing. Last year total PC gaming revenues were estimated at over $16 billion, growing 20% year-on-year[1]. Growing the market 20% in one year is generally not described as 'dying [a] slow death'.
Lots of developers and publishers are seeing increased opportunity in the market, such as EA (Electronic Arts, the 2nd biggest games publisher) which has suggested the PC may soon become it's primary platform[2].
I think it's safe to say we should hold off on the obituaries for now.
[1] http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/pc-gaming-sector-enjoyed-significant-revenue-growth-in-2010-the/ http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/02/pc-gaming-sector-enjoyed-s...
[2] http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33394/Interview_Frank_Gibeau_on_EAs_Expanding_Focus_in_the_PC_Space.php http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33394/Interview_Frank_Gib...
- sid0 16y agoIndeed. http://www.gamesetwatch.com/newzoo_2010spend.jpg http://www.gamesetwatch.com/newzoo_2010spend.jpg shows that traditional non-MMO PC gaming is a larger portion of the market than most consoles, even in the US. Plus with digital distribution publishers get 70-100% of the money customers spend, as opposed to retail's ~30%, so you need to sell half to a third as much as on consoles to make just as much money.
- Shorel 16y agoI would say that lots of software developers of PC games died because of piracy. PC gaming was in life-support for about three years because of that. And it has recovered thanks to Steam.