Casual Games Sector Report 2015: World's Top Games Markets

The 2015 Casual Games Sector Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global games market, focusing on the shifting dominance between the United States and China. The primary thesis identifies China as the world’s largest games market as of 2015, projecting that the combined revenue of China and the US will account for 50% of the global market by 2018. While the US market remains significant, characterized by a strong console presence and a 3.1% compound annual growth rate, China’s rapid expansion is driven by massive mobile adoption and a dominant PC/MMO sector.

Key findings indicate that China’s games market reached $22.2 billion in 2015, a 23% year-on-year increase, with mobile segments—specifically smartphone games—experiencing 50% growth. In contrast, the US market generated $22.0 billion in 2015, with 45% of revenue derived from TV, console, and VR platforms. Data highlights a distinct difference in consumer behavior: US mobile gamers show a higher propensity for "big spending" (4.8%) compared to Chinese counterparts (2.6%). Furthermore, genre preferences diverge significantly; social casino games represent 25.4% of top-grossing iOS revenues in the US, whereas such titles are largely restricted in China, where RPGs dominate the market.

The analysis utilizes data from the 2015 Global Games Market Report, incorporating revenue projections, demographic breakdowns, and platform-specific performance metrics. The scope covers global industry trends with an emphasis on the US and China, spanning the period from 2012 to 2018. The findings conclude that while Western developers face challenges entering the Chinese ecosystem due to local publisher dominance, opportunities exist through strategic investments and cross-platform adaptations of successful titles.