DFC Intelligence predicts the
worldwide market for portable and mobile games is expected to grow to
$11.7 billion by 2014. The primary driver of this growth is expected to
be the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch systems.
By 2014, sales for games on
the iPhone/iPod Touch are expected to account for about 24% of total
portable game software sales.
"The dedicated portable game systems from companies like Nintendo
and Sony are still expected to lead the market, but it appears growth
for these devices has peaked. The platforms from Apple are expected to
be responsible for the bulk of market growth over the next few years,"
says DFC analyst David Cole.
DFC
also released some results from a study on the mobile game habits of
over 8,000 game players in North America and Europe. 54% of respondents
in North America and 69% of respondents in Europe had played a game on
their mobile phone in the past year.
Furthermore, 45% of respondents in
North America and 36% in Europe had paid to purchase an application for
their mobile phone. Among respondents, the App Store was already the
most popular service for making purchases. Across both North America
and Europe about 15% of respondents already owned an iPhone or iPod
Touch, compared with 29% that owned a Nintendo DS.
The
entry of Apple into the mobile entertainment space is so important that
DFC Intelligence partnered with leading iPhone application provider
Oceanhouse Media (developers of over 60 iPhone apps) to prepare a
detailed report on the market. According to Greg Uhler, Oceanhouse
Media Development Director, “with the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple has
finally delivered mobile developers a platform with an attractive
business model and a rapidly growing installed base of active
consumers.” Of course, the iPhone is about more than just games. “Games
are expected to account for only about 23% of application sales on the
iPhone,” says Michel Kripalani, President of Oceanhouse Media. “There
are many fantastic opportunities for non-game related content on both
the iPhone and iPod Touch. These devices, when combined with Apple’s
business model, are a much needed revolution for the mobile market.”
The
new series of reports include The Market for iPhone and iPod Games and
Applications, The Market for Portable Video Games and Gamers and the
Usage of Mobile Phones. These reports are available individually or as
part of one of DFC Intelligence’s ongoing research services.