Market Insights Digital Digital Media Video Games

Online Games - GCC

In 2024, the Online Games market in the GCC is projected to reach a revenue of US$121.50m.
It is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2027) of 5.04%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$140.80m by 2027.
By 2027, the number of users in the GCC Online Games market is expected to amount to 5.9m users.
The user penetration rate is projected to be 4.5% in 2024 and is expected to increase to 4.6% by 2027.
In a global comparison, it is worth noting that China will generate the highest revenue in the Online Games market, with US$6,532.00m in 2024.
Finally, the average revenue per user (ARPU) in the GCC Online Games market is projected to amount to US$21.84 in 2024.
The online gaming market in the GCC region is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing popularity of mobile gaming among the tech-savvy youth population.

Key regions: China, Europe, France, India, South Korea

Market

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Analyst Opinion

Thanks to high smartphone penetration across the globe, gaming is increasingly happening on the go. Mobile games of all kinds are becoming more and more popular and attract players with additional premium contents or functionalities. Thus, traditional online games slowly lose attractiveness to its usual audience. Only recent phenomena like the Battle Royale hits Fortnite and PUBG are still driving the market’s growth and shape online gaming in general.

Methodology

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on the Video Games market. Digital video games are defined as fee-based video games distributed over the internet. These include online games, download games, mobile games, and gaming networks. All monetary figures refer to consumer spending on digital goods or subscriptions in the respective market. This spending factors in discounts, margins, and taxes.

Modeling approach / market size:

The market size is determined through a bottom-up approach. We use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies and industry associations, third-party studies and reports, survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey), as well as performance factors (e.g., user penetration, price per product, usage) to analyze the markets. To estimate the market size for each country individually, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific industry associations, such as various macroeconomic indicators, historical developments, current trends, and reported performance indicators of key market players. In particular, we consider average prices and annual purchase frequencies.

Forecasts:

We apply a variety of forecasting techniques, depending on the behavior of the relevant market. For instance, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing are well suited for forecasting digital products and services due to the non-linear growth of technology adoption. The main drivers are GDP per capita, consumer spending per capita, and 4G coverage.

Additional notes:

The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The market is updated twice a year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is considered at a country-specific level. The data is modeled using current exchange rates. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. The market is updated twice a year. In some cases, the data is updated on an ad hoc basis (e.g., when new, relevant data has been released or significant changes within the market have an impact on the projected development). GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.