This year, Newzoo s Top 100 Countries By Game Revenues, the comprehensive overview of the global market, represent 99.7% of the $91.5 billion games wallet worldwide. This overview, taken from our 2015 Global Games Market Report shows that top 20 countries alone will generate an estimated $83.0 billion this year, or 90.8% of total global games revenues. The ranking shows China at number one with 2015 revenues estimated to reach $22.2 billion, eclipsing the US for the first time as the world s top games market. El Salvador takes position 100 with $11.5 million in annual revenue.
Asia Pacific Contributes Almost Half of Top 100 Revenues
In 2015, countries from the Asia Pacific region account for 47.2% of top 100 revenues, with China leading the way. Despite mobile gaming growing faster than PC gaming in China, the market is still dominated by the Computer Screen, which will generate $15.2 billion this year, or 68% of total Chinese revenues. Southeast Asia is growing faster than anywhere else, driven mainly by mobile gaming, the region s largest segment in 2015. Thailand remains Southeast Asia s biggest earner. Thai revenues will reach $338 million in 2015, up +42.2 from the previous year, making Thailand the 23rd largest games market in the world. Hot on Thailand s trail, Indonesia will gain six ranks this year to take position 24 and generate $313 million in revenues, an astounding increase of +52% on 2014. With explosive growth rates like these, it wouldn t be too surprising to see a Southeast Asian country break into the top 20 in 2016.
India Soars into the Top 20
The most notable climber in the top 20 is India, gaining five ranks this year to be the 18th largest games market in the world. Indian consumer spending is growing rapidly. In 2015, India will have 159 million gamers who will generate revenues of $428 million, up +62.0% from 2014. By 2018, the Indian games market, driven primarily by the mobile segment, will break the billion dollar mark, representing an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of +49.2% for 2014-2018. This makes India one of the fastest growing games markets in the world and on its way to being a major global player. Increasingly, international companies are turning their focus to India, especially following recent news that Apple and Google have lowered the minimum price for apps and in-app purchases there. Stay tuned for our upcoming report, The Indian Games Market Review, for more insights into this dynamic and rapidly growing region.
Countries Overtaking Western European Nations
The overall Western European games market will reach $15.6 billion this year. While this represents a steady year-on-year increase of 1.9%, individual countries are losing their positions in the top 100 to faster growing regions of Southeast Asia, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. Notably, the Netherlands will lose two spots, while Belgium and Norway will lose five positions each. Mexico will gain one place to be the 13th largest games market in 2015, while further down the ranking, Argentina and Colombia will also see slight gains. Brazil remains, Latin America s leader at $1.5 billion. In Middle East and Africa, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran will also climb the ladder and overtake Western European countries in the process. Meanwhile, Germany will maintain its spot as the largest Western European games market and generate $3.7 billion, with TV/Console gaming taking the biggest share of the market.
