Related Documents
Report
Asian & MENA Markets: 2025 Half-Year Report
The video game markets across Asia and the Middle East are entering a period of recalibrated growth, with total revenues across key sub-regions projected to reach significant milestones by 2025. China remains the dominant force, with revenues expected to hit $51.2 billion in 2025, supported by a 4.1% year-over-year increase. This growth is fueled by a 24% rise in game approvals and proactive government subsidies. While China maintains a steady long-term outlook with a 3.0% five-year compound annual growth rate, India emerges as the fastest-growing market. India is projected to surpass the $1 billion threshold in 2025 with a 16.2% year-over-year increase, driven by the PROG Act of 2025, which pivoted the industry away from real-money gaming toward traditional video games and esports. Regional performance varies significantly based on local macroeconomic conditions and hardware cycles. East Asia, comprising Japan and South Korea, shows a more optimistic outlook than previously anticipated, with a revised five-year growth rate of 1.7%. This shift is attributed to the successful launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and a recovery in the South Korean mobile sector. Conversely, Southeast Asia and the MENA-3 region (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt) face more tempered expectations. Southeast Asia’s growth forecast was lowered to 3.5% due to headwinds in Thailand and Indonesia, despite strong performance in Vietnam. Similarly, the MENA-3 forecast was adjusted downward to a 6.4% growth rate as economic challenges in Egypt and slower mobile growth in Saudi Arabia offset increased government support for localization and age-rating reforms. The data, derived from Niko Partners’ 2025 half-year market model updates, covers PC, mobile, and console platforms across 13 distinct markets. The methodology integrates proprietary market models, macroeconomic indicators, and qualitative regulatory analysis to provide a comprehensive five-year outlook through 2029. Overall, the findings suggest that while mature markets like China and East Asia are stabilizing, emerging markets like India and Vietnam are becoming critical drivers of global industry expansion.
Niko PartnersJan 2025
Report
Gaming Industry Report: Global & MENAP Outlook Q4 2023
The analysis presents a forward‑looking assessment of the global gaming market with a particular focus on the MENAP region, outlining the strategic opportunities that are reshaping the industry in 2024 and beyond. Central to the outlook is the rapid convergence of emerging technologies—virtual reality, artificial intelligence, mobile platforms, quantum computing, GPU‑as‑a‑Service, and cloud gaming—which together are accelerating content creation, distribution, and consumption across diverse consumer bases. Investment activity is framed around a thesis that prioritises three core pillars: high‑value content and intellectual property, software efficiency solutions that lower development costs, and user‑generated‑content ecosystems that drive engagement and monetisation. Funding targets range from pre‑seed to Series A rounds, with typical ticket sizes of $1 million to $8 million, reflecting confidence in early‑stage ventures that can capitalize on the identified technology trends. The outreach strategy includes participation in high‑profile events such as the World Gaming Conference in Abu Dhabi (15‑16 February) and LEAP 2024 in Riyadh (4‑7 March), complemented by a dedicated “Gaming Investor” newsletter, a GameON podcast, and sponsorship opportunities for research partners. Overall, the findings underscore a vibrant growth trajectory for gaming in both established and emerging markets, driven by technological innovation and a robust pipeline of investable startups. Stakeholders are encouraged to engage through subscription services, collaborative research, and direct investment to capture value in this rapidly evolving sector.
Shorooq PartnersDec 2023
Report
Female Gamers in Asia: Version for Women in Games Asia Panel
Female gamers represent a primary engine of growth within the Asian interactive entertainment market, accounting for 35% of the region's 1.46 billion total gamers as of 2021. This demographic is expanding at a faster rate than the general gaming population, with a year-over-year growth of 7.6% compared to the total market increase of 5.0%. The scope of this analysis covers China and the Asia-10 markets, which include Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Data was derived from a 2021 survey of over 6,500 randomized respondents who identified as active gamers across mobile, PC, and console platforms. Mobile gaming is the dominant platform for this demographic, utilized by 95% of female gamers, while 60% engage with PC games and 17% use consoles. In terms of genre, female players in Asia show a strong preference for role-playing, racing, and strategy games. Discovery of new titles is primarily driven by social recommendations from friends, followed by the visual quality of graphics and core gameplay mechanics. Monetization trends indicate that female gamers are highly engaged with in-game economies, with 84% of those willing to spend making in-game purchases. They are particularly inclined toward purchasing cosmetic items and participating in gacha mechanics. In 2021, female gamer spending reached $13.07 billion in China and $5.52 billion across the Asia-10 for mobile titles, while PC game spending reached $9.70 billion and $3.93 billion in those respective regions. These findings suggest that gender inclusivity and targeted development for diverse interests are essential for capturing the full economic potential of the Asian games industry.
Niko PartnersOct 2022
Report
Video Game Market Update: Q3 2025
The global video game industry experienced a notable resurgence in growth during the third quarter of 2025, driven by a rebound in mobile in-app purchases and robust performance across PC and console platforms. The launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 served as a primary catalyst for console sector strength, reinforcing the enduring value of established intellectual property. While the broader capital markets faced significant headwinds, characterized by multi-year lows in public fundraising and subdued early-stage venture activity, the industry’s transaction landscape was defined by high-value consolidation. The $55 billion public takeover of Electronic Arts stands as the definitive event of the period, signaling a strategic shift toward large-scale mergers and acquisitions as the primary mechanism for growth. Market dynamics currently favor established entities, with diversified publishers and PC and console developers commanding significant valuation premiums due to their proven profitability and market stability. This environment has concentrated investment power among a select group of firms. BITKRAFT emerged as the most active participant in the early-stage ecosystem over the past twelve months, leading the sector with 16 deals totaling $113 million. Alongside other prominent investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and Menlo Ventures, these firms continue to deploy capital despite the broader contraction in private investment. Ultimately, the industry is transitioning into a phase of maturity where scale and intellectual property ownership are paramount. While early-stage funding remains constrained, the surge in total transaction value through megadeals indicates that institutional confidence remains high for proven assets. The current landscape suggests a bifurcated market where high-growth, established publishers attract significant capital, while smaller, early-stage ventures face a more challenging environment for securing liquidity and growth funding.
Aream & CoSept 2025