Xbox Live revs to hit $1 billion annually by 2013 - Study
In-Stat research indicates Microsoft's online gaming service will thrive; Sony and Nintendo also positioned to reap hundreds of millions in online revenue.
In January, Microsoft announced that it had achieved $1 billion in revenue from Xbox Live Marketplace since the Xbox 360 launched in November 2005. According to the publisher, that figure was significantly bolstered in 2008, when Xbox Live revenues increased 84 percent during the year. According to a new study by research firm In-Stat, that trend is likely to continue, with the Xbox Live service poised to bring in $1 billion a year for the publisher by 2013.
;){kind=link}
In Stat's research indicates that while Xbox Live will lead competing services from Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii, the other two companies are also in a strong position. "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," the firm stated as part of its findings.
On the whole, console and handheld subscription services will have grown by 20.4 percent between 2005 and 2013, In Stat predicted. Driving this figure, the research firm stated, was the increasing penetration of broadband Internet connectivity, which is predicted to reach 562 million people in 2009.
Explaining its methodology, In-Stat said that its research is primarily based on telephone and in-person interviews with console and handheld hardware vendors, as well as game publishers.
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Join the conversation