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PC gaming topped $13 billion in 2009 - Report

Study finds worldwide retail, downloadable, and advertising revenues for computer games up 3 percent; retail now less than 20% of PC market.

Last year was a rough one for the gaming industry as a whole, with market research firm The NPD Group finding that the US retail sector's total gaming revenues for 2009 slipped 8 percent year-over-year. Despite that, the PC Gaming Alliance today is saying that its own corner of the market not only weathered the storm but managed to grow in the process.

PC gaming dying? To the contrary, says a group of companies with considerable financial investments in the platform.

PC gaming dying? To the contrary, says a group of companies with considerable financial investments in the platform.

The trade group today--whose stated mission is "to develop and promote solutions that drive the PC gaming industry forward"--released a report prepared by DFC Intelligence that found worldwide PC gaming software revenues were up 3 percent for the year to $13.1 billion. Besides retail, that includes downloadable sales, subscription and microtransaction fees, and online advertising, none of which is included in the NPD numbers.

Despite pointing to overall growth, the report did find that some aspects of the industry suffered last year. Specifically, "high-end" subscription revenues ($10 a month or more) were down, blamed on a combination of fewer major releases using the scheme and more players cancelling their accounts to older games.

Boxed retail revenues took the biggest hit, as the traditional distribution method now accounts for less then 20 percent of total PC game software revenues. In North America and Europe, the PC Gaming Alliance found that retail game sales were generally down between 10-15 percent for the year.

The report also found consumers growing more comfortable with the notion of buying their games online. More than 70 percent of North American and European players surveyed said they had purchased a game online, with 50 percent having purchased a virtual item in a game.

The PC Gaming Alliance boasts a number of heavy hitters in the sector, including Microsoft, Intel, AMD, Nvidia, Epic Games, and Capcom. Last year was a busy one for the group, as it saw the departure of Activision Blizzard but welcomed eight other partners, including Gas Powered Games and GameStop.

100 Comments

  • _Emperor

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 8:34 pm GMT

    @AceCometh
    Yea i played trough DAO aswell, awsome, loved the genre since Baldurs gate was first released, didnt like Icewind dale tho >_>..

    Mass effect have to be 1 of the best shooter-rgp archetype out there, still waiting for some DLC's before i'll play trough Mass Effect 2

  • AceCometh

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 6:08 pm GMT

    @_Emperor

    I'm still tempted to renew my subscription for the next expansion. Must.. resist.. urge!!! I played through Dragon Age: Origin since quitting WoW and absolutely loved it. If you love RPG's, you need to play it. I'm not playing through Mass Effect 2. Another awesome game if you like the sci-fi arena as well.

  • 1q3er5

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 7:38 pm GMT

    pc gaming alliance is a joke, what is epic doing in there, microsoft trying to kill PC's too making games exclusives for xbox and forcing people to upgrade because of direct X. gamestop, sony LOL give me a break.

  • AceBalls

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 1:00 pm GMT

    PC gaming will always be one step ahead of console gaming. It's a fact and we know it. I've got a PC and a PS3 so I can tell

  • Duckpoop

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 12:35 pm GMT

    @ Trogeton and other console fanboys

    I only spent $150.00 on a GTS 250 1GB to turn my PC into a gaming rig, most of my games are $10.00 cheaper than on consoles, $150 will get me a 2 TB hard drive instead of a 120 GB one (xbox prices ) if I need more space, and I play comfortably on my HD TV from the couch with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

    Oh, and I play modern warfare 2 at 1080p, not 600p like on the consoles!

    My $150.00 upgrade to hardware I already had/needed will be leaps and bounds better than any console until a new generation console comes out. I will not need to upgrade until then and have never had problems with drivers/running games. PC gaming is not more expensive or significantly more effort for a better experience if you don't want it to be (and are not a 'tard).

    Anyways, this is great news. A link to this article should be emailed to every game-production exec.

  • jamyskis

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 12:33 pm GMT

    I'd love to know where they got their figure of "20%" for retail sales, given that reliable figures for DD are not available and probably never will be. Pay-to-play MMORPGs also yield the most income while incurring the fewest expenses, although everyone has been jumping on the bandwagon because of this and the market has just become too full - as such a lot of MMOGs have just failed outright.

    For the record, most people I know buy largely retail, with only smaller, older games being bought online. I've personally bought a few games off GOG.com and one directly off Steam (AvP Classic), but those were special circumstances, and I still prefer retail for games that I'm going to keep and play in years to come.

    That said, given the DRM insanity that has been reigning the PC market, I've pretty much completely shifted over to the PS3 and I only rarely buy games for the PC anymore. I may move back if the market gets its act together, but I'm not counting on it.

  • Juguard

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 11:42 am GMT

    PC gaming will never die, because you just can't do on a console, what you can do on a PC. And for genre, like others stated, FPS, RTS, MMOs, and even RPGs. Also, a PC is pretty much infinite backwards compatible. You can play on any modern PC every single PC game ever developed. Heck, you can even play some older console games.

    I love my Xbox 360, and will get a PS3, but I only buy exclusive games on them, that I find that I like, besides that, everything is on the PC, and in box edition, I'm not a fan of digital, except if the game is only released digital, but that's just me, nothing against digital.

  • cyborg100000

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 11:06 am GMT

    I love my PC.

  • ekultus

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 10:18 am GMT

    sorry to say marky360 but a good graphics card will last you at least 2 years without having to upgrade, it just goes to show these console kiddies dont know what their talking about.

    while the PC gamer can upgrade his/her system if they want the console lovers have no such option, merely stuck playing 5 year old games on a 5 year old console, ultimately forced to buy a new console just to keep up with PC gamers

  • Marky360 posted Mar 11, 2010 9:55 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Marky360

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 9:55 am GMT (hide)

    @purecontrol
    there's absolutely no way I'm ditching the PS3 or the Xbox 360 for a PC. I think console gameing is waaay better then PC gaming and a lot more fun. besides I don't want to have to buy a new graphics card every time a new game comes out I'd much rather just put it in the system and play no upgrading required.

  • Marky360 posted Mar 11, 2010 9:48 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Marky360

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 9:48 am GMT (hide)

    PC fanboy's thumb me down because they don't know the reson why I think it will be better on consoles. It has nothing to do with graphics or anything like that the reason I think it will be ultimately better on consoles instead of PC is because the PC version will most likely come with some stupid DRM that won't let u play it when not connected to the internet. and I think we can all agree that if that happens the console version will indeed be the better version.

  • dc337

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 9:09 am GMT

    @purecontrol what about people with laptops or desktops with igpus? @others who got angry over me stating that pc gaming has been kicked in the head

    Last gen pc gaming was a lot better when you could buy great exclusives in the store that were far ahead of console gaming. These days it's console ports that only play slightly better and the occasional RTS or MMO. There's just too many headaches these days that come with being a pc-only gamer. The AC2 DRM is a good example. I'm a gaming realist, deal with it.

  • purecontrol

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:48 am GMT

    purecontrol
    Posted Mar 11, 2010 4:31 pm GMT

    i wish everbody would just use computers for gaming, u can hook it up to the tv and u can use a controller plus it has far better graphics.Everone will be able to play everyone, just having one platform will force developers to make all exclusives to the computer.Imagine being able to play Halo, Gears of War, Uncharted, Heavy Rain, God of War on the same platform as everyone else. Everybody PLEASE STOP USING CONSOLES, THE ONLY THING U "MIGHT" HAVE TO BUY IS A GRAPHICS CARD WHICH IS FAR CHEAPER THAN A CONSOLE

  • XanderKage

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:41 am GMT

    Thank god for DRM. Maybe with Ubisoft's new deal, the PC market will grow another billion or 2 the next year.

    Lol, no, just kidding. Regardless, it's good to hear PC gaming is alive and kicking.

  • malikmmm

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 8:35 am GMT

    PC Gaming will never Die!

  • ecw1983

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 4:40 am GMT

    DC 337 is always going on how PC gaming is dead, now he says it isnt.
    DC 337 prob can afford a gaming cos hes a crack wh0re

  • ecw1983

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 4:36 am GMT

    @ dc337

    I think DC 337 has been kicked in the face, why does this console fanboy always have to comment on the pc topics, please take that PC original Avatar out of your profile. PC gaming forever , suck it DC 337

  • anony2004

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 4:17 am GMT

    PC gaming the best!

  • Rawandouz

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:56 am GMT

    BC...AD...PC

  • _Emperor

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:29 am GMT

    @AceCometh

    I have done the exact same thing, and whats suprise me the most, is that you "miss" so many great games that comes out while stuck in the WoW swamp..
    ive had a blast playing trough alot of games lately, and i wonder to my self "why the hell didn't i play these before"

    I did however take up on the offer "7 days free" when you have been inactive for a while, hadnt played since mid ToC patch (3.2) or something, and i gotta say, i literally feelt sick how WoW have become, both as a Game and as a Community, no offence tho , so quited, and uninstalled again, and i won't look back , and i will neither buy the expansion.

    I guess people forget how really awsome "other" games can be

    And @ Inconnux
    True, but RPG games are Console > PC

  • AceCometh

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 2:17 am GMT

    I cancelled my subscription to World of Warcraft, yet I'm playing more games on my PC than ever! I beat the WoW addiction, and it feels great! I now spend that time playing other great games I'd have passed up for the same old boring Azeroth.

  • M8ingSeezun

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:46 pm GMT

    PC gaming 4ever

  • namdar

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:28 pm GMT

    @dc337 agreed BTW that's a wicked avatar you got there.

  • dc337

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:19 pm GMT

    PC gaming isn't dying but it has been kicked in the face.

  • Inconnux

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 11:07 pm GMT

    PC are the best way to play... mouse/keyboard beats noobsticks any day... FPS, RTS and MMO's are all far better on the PC

  • The_Fro

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 10:39 pm GMT

    Finally a stat tracking group that actually includes digital distribution. People seem to think that PC gaming is dead because NPD only reports the retail store sales and Gamespot usually posts only their stats. Its nice to finally have evidence that I'm not part of a dying breed of gamer.

  • Doomsong83

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:50 pm GMT

    Nice face console kiddies byt PC gaming is still alive and well.

  • psx_warrior

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:48 pm GMT

    I do like having the physical disc when it comes to having games. At least Best Buy still carries a wide selection of pc games. I knew, though, that those npd numbers couldn't be right, though, and I'm happy to see it, but as I posted below, I couldn't resist getting a ps3 because of FF XIII.

  • DahLong

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:42 pm GMT

    i usually use my pc for gaming especially shooting games. just easier for me

  • psx_warrior

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 9:37 pm GMT

    I have a gaming pc, but I just bought a ps3 tonight because of FF XIII. For me, if a game is on both, I'll get it for the pc because I know it'll have better graphics on my gaming rig. If the game is only available on ps3, I'll get it for ps3. Either way, I feel like I win. Won't get a 360 or Wii.

  • BroDziN

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:42 pm GMT

    ps3,xbox360 its good but the pc always have something more

  • schesak

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 8:28 pm GMT

    For years a lot of gamespot members have been touting that PC gaming is dead, and here we have a story that seems to indicate that it is the one sector of gaming which actually grew in 2009.
    I guess all of those doomsayers are wrong?
    (Of course, I already knew that, but it's nice to have validation)

  • ScreamDream

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:53 pm GMT

    PC gaming lives woot!!

  • Moloch121

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:40 pm GMT

    @guitarist1980....Eyefinity is like having sex with 2 girls...one in each arm

  • guitarist1980

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:36 pm GMT

    I did play 2 grand for this pc last year and I just spent another 1200.00 on upgrades but I didnt have to spend this much to get this kind of performance I just wanted to future proof myself... I am kind of obsessed with my rig, my girlfriend hates it alot.. in fact I am scared I am going to come home from work one day and see it smashed to pieces..

    Eyefinity guys you really have to experiance games on 3 22+ monitors, its better than sex. Well not really but you get the point.

  • guitarist1980

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 7:31 pm GMT

    If your hardware is within 2 years old you should never have a problem, unless its a bug or something.. but that in itself is the problem with pc gaming because there are so many gpu's and cpu's, and mobo's and memory types etc etc so sometimes you run into a compatibility problem.. I actually just bought 2 5870's and 2 more lcd's and now I can play games with eyefinity and its so much better than my 360 or ps3 I cant even play consoles anymore.. eyefinity is the sickness. I just wish Mass Effect 2 was supported with triple screens.. But all in all eyefinity is the best gaming experiance you can have imo, you so called gamers have to atleast check it out or your missing out.

  • milkman18

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:33 pm GMT

    you guys are not getting the whole picture...vast majority of console players have a PC aswell...WHY SPEND 800-1000 $ TO BUY A CRAPY HOME COMPUTER WHEN YOU CAN BUY OR BUILD A $1500 HIGH END SYSTEM AN DON'T HAVE TO BUY A CONSOLE???

    i DON WANT TO GET INTO ALL THE OTHER COUNTLESS FACTS WHY PC OWNS CONSOLES !

    NUFF SAID

  • mpeg3s posted Mar 10, 2010 6:01 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mpeg3s

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:01 pm GMT (hide)

    My problem with PC gaming is this:

    Some new PC games don't work properly. They are not as thoroughly tested as console versions! Note, this is not all games. If you have the proper hardware it should work period. I own an Intel motherboard. If it's a game pad game ALL game pads should work. I can't stand that some games are requiring 360 pads and still don't work like the 360 version.

    Add DRM with more problems and then this game should be FREE.

    Enough said!

  • moh_sakhaii

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:33 pm GMT

    Yeah, Please make it the last time I see comparision numbers in retail for PC VS consoles or else

  • imprezawrx500

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 4:06 pm GMT

    so much for pc dying. See consolites you can't use ndp numbers when only 10-20% of game sales are counted. consoles would look very week if you only counted less than 1/4 of sales. digital is where pc is at and any game which isn't on steam will not sell very well anymore. I have not bought a retail pc game since xmas 08.

  • maverick_76 posted Mar 10, 2010 3:51 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    maverick_76

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:51 pm GMT (hide)

    @Daian

    Yeah the point I was making is I bought that PC in late 2004- early 2005 and it was considered a high level PC back then, but in about 5 years I have trouble surfing the internet smoothly. With consoles you can expect to be able to use it for a minimum of 5 years and in the case of Sony, 10 years. To me it seems that to have a good rig you have to do a full overhaul every 5 years (new motherboard, GPU, CPU, RAM etc.) Basically spending about $1,000 every 5 years. Compare that to consoles where a new one runs under $500, it's easy to see that you do get a better bang for your buck with them. I love my PC and PC games, but I haven't bought one in forever because I just can't drop $1,000 for what I need so it can last for the next 5 years as well. Crysis is a perfect example, even now that the game is two years old you still would have to buy a $2,000 rig to run that at maximum settings.

  • mismajor99

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:46 pm GMT

    Without PC Gaming, I'd hardly ever game. Love my consoles and handhelds too, but nothing beats an FPS or RTS or MMO on PC..

  • jedikevin2

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:43 pm GMT

    @misterstatus
    Umm i don't see the point in lowering the price when most online services allow you to put the game on disc anyway. Not like you really getting any benefits to going to disc as almost all pc games install ALL parts of a game to your hd and the disc is only used as a vague drm. Oh. Steam does lower its price. How many new release games come out with a extra 10%? A good bit on steam actually. I got bc2 for 44.99 and offcourse no tax woot. That is like 10 dollars off from retail. PC gaming has been going steady for a while now. People over hyped npd figures of PC once the switch to online sales started (which npd does not measure). Nothing better then each read, "Pc games slump 35% in 2009" and in small print "this study does not allow for online sales". Now time for me to get back to my old school dos classic "dominus".

  • misterstatus

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:35 pm GMT

    I try to play games on the format that works best for that type of game. For me, the PC is the system of choice for FPS and RTS games. No console gamepad can match the lightning quick precision of a mouse and keyboard. However, when it comes to games that don't require that level of precision, it's nice to sit back on the couch and play games on the big screen. I'd much rather play Assassin's Creed 2 or Dirt 2 on the 360 or PS3 on my 50" plasma than on my PC. On the other hand, Modern Warfare 2 was a PC no brainer.

    As for digital downloads of PC games, I have a major problem with the price. There's no way at all that a downloadable version of a game, with no disc, manual, or packaging of any kind, should cost as much as a retail copy. Steam and other similar download services need to drop their prices to more reasonable levels before we'll really see the death of retail. For $50, I want the disc and some fancy box art.

  • Daian

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:26 pm GMT

    @maverick_76

    Look at the PC haters thumb u down when u give examples of games that can't be played on consoles, how predictable. Also is true that u have to upgrade relatively often if u want the best of the best but that PC u have is ancient, that's from before this consoles even launched so it's no surprise that it can't run any remotely recent games but that's the same like saying the PS2 can't run PS3 games , it's obvious. Contrary to popular belief u don't need to upgrade that much to play new games at good quality, i haven't upgraded anything in 2 years and i played Mass Effect 2 with ease and no i did not spend a ton of money on my PC.

    @Marky360

    That's for sure, anybody with half a brain realizes that PCs offer the best graphics money can buy , if u can afford it of course and anybody that thinks otherwise is just lying to themselves. Seriously guys the current generation of consoles is 4-5 years old, even if u make a gaming PC with affordable 2 year old parts it's still better than what the 360 or PS3 can do.

    @Rickiej

    I'm in a similar position and feel the same.

    @Toysoldier34

    Omg u spent waaaay to much on that,maybe u should have asked somebody to advise u what to buy, u could've made a great PC with half that amount.

    One thing i don't understand is why Activision Blizzard left the Alliance since Blizzard makes only PC exclusives. Must be the Activision side doing stupid things again...

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:09 pm GMT

    Yeah, so start counting digital revenue NPD....otherwise don't try to post data and call it accurate.And stop trying to say PC gaming is dying people, you've been saying that for like 20 years now.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:07 pm GMT

    @Toysoldier34

    I want that to work so badly, then all I would need is a mid-level PC with a fast internet connection to enjoy games to their fullest.

  • maverick_76 posted Mar 10, 2010 3:06 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    maverick_76

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:06 pm GMT (hide)

    The biggest problem PC gaming faces is the constant upgrading you have to do to play the biggest and best titles, not really sure how to combat this. I love PC gaming but my dinosaur P4 with my FX gpu is no match for games that came out even 3-4 years ago.

  • Trogeton posted Mar 10, 2010 3:05 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Trogeton

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 3:05 pm GMT (hide)

    people put WAY too much money into 1 system just a to play a few games.. while they don't have to put even half and by 1 console that you never have to pay for an upgrade or update again and play games forever

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