Number of gamers in China 2014-2024
China, the world’s second-largest economy, is already home to one of the largest gaming populations in the world, a number reaching 674 million in 2024. However, the growth rate of gamers in China was expected to stagnate over the coming few years, given the existing challenges of improving internet access in rural regions.
Online gaming in China
China has become one of the world’s largest and most rapidly growing online gaming markets. Forecasts indicate that the annual average revenue per user (ARPU) in video games would pass the 73 U.S. dollar mark by 2028. As of October 2024, over 75 percent of Chinese internet users had engaged in online gaming. With an internet user base of 1.1 billion in China, online gaming still possesses a massive market potential that is yet to be unlocked.
Mobile gaming on the rise
Mobile games have overtaken PC-online games as the largest sector in the Chinese online gaming market. Driven mainly by smartphone and other handheld device sales, the Chinese mobile game market has grown exponentially. In 2024, the mobile gaming market in China reach 238 billion yuan with a year-over-year growth rate at 5.01 percent. Tencent, one of the leading Chinese internet players, has been dominating the online gaming market in China. Other major online game companies in China include NetEase, miHoYo, and 37 Interactive Entertainment.
