Estimated at a value of 403 billion yuan in 2022, China’s online gaming sector has doubled its size within six years. While eSports and a growing female player base appear to be the next big waves of China’s gaming prosperity, the country’s strict regulations could also stunt the growth of these market prospects.
China’s gaming scene
Since 2017, mobile games have been the major pillar of the Chinese gaming industry. Role playing, multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), and shooters are the bestselling mobile game categories. Apart from mobile gaming, eSports sales revenue has seen tremendous growth, with MOBA, shooters, and strategy games being the favorite genres. Furthermore, female gamers are on the rise. In 2020, the market size of mobile games targeting female consumers surpassed 60 billion yuan, indicating a 22 percent year-over-year growth rate.
A treasure trove that is difficult to access
For many game developers and publishers, the Chinese market is lucrative but challenging as well. On one side, China is home to one billion internet users, yet only half of them have engaged in online gaming. There is a massive market potential waiting to be unlocked. On the other side, all games must get an official approval before launching in China. The Chinese authorities have been active in tightening restrictions on game content and have sought to cut playtime for underage gamers in recent years.
Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022
(in billion yuan)
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Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022
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One yuan equals approximately 0.141 U.S. dollars and 0.14 euros (as of March 2023).
According to the source, online gaming includes PC-installed online games, PC browser games and mobile games. Also, both domestic and overseas incomes of China-based online gaming companies are included.
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AskCI Consulting. (August 12, 2022). Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022 (in billion yuan) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 01, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/284942/market-volume-of-online-gaming-market-in-china/
AskCI Consulting. "Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022 (in billion yuan)." Chart. August 12, 2022. Statista. Accessed February 01, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/284942/market-volume-of-online-gaming-market-in-china/
AskCI Consulting. (2022). Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022 (in billion yuan). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 01, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/284942/market-volume-of-online-gaming-market-in-china/
AskCI Consulting. "Market Size of The Online Gaming Market in China from 2016 to 2020 with Forecasts until 2022 (in Billion Yuan)." Statista, Statista Inc., 12 Aug 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/284942/market-volume-of-online-gaming-market-in-china/
AskCI Consulting, Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022 (in billion yuan) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/284942/market-volume-of-online-gaming-market-in-china/ (last visited February 01, 2025)
Market size of the online gaming market in China from 2016 to 2020 with forecasts until 2022 (in billion yuan) [Graph], AskCI Consulting, August 12, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/284942/market-volume-of-online-gaming-market-in-china/
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