One hope: Can downloading save the PC games market?
That is the way MS is headed.
Microsoft Selects Exent Technologies As Worldwide Games-on-Demand Partner for PC Games
Revenue
US PC Game Software Sales (adjusted for inflation in italics)
1998 - $1.8 billion ($2.1 B)
1999 - $1.9 billion ($2.17 B)
2000 - $1.78 billion ($1.98 B) (84.9 million units)
2001 - $1.75 billion ($1.90 B) (83.6 million units)
2002 - $1.4 billion ($1.49 B) (61.5 million units)
2003 - $1.2 billion ($1.26 B) (52.8 million units)
2004 - $1.1 billion ($1.13 B) (45 million units) [even with Doom3, HL2 and Far Cry]
2005(H1) - down 10.5%
US Console & Handheld Game Software Sales
1998 - $3.7 billion
1999 - $4.2 billion
2000 - $4.1 billion (130.6 million units)
2001 - $4.6 billion (141.5 million units)
2002 - $5.5 billion (162.8 million units)
2003 - $5.8 billion (186.4 million units)
2004 - $6.2 billion (203 million units)
2005(H1) - up 22%
When will PC game sales finally hit bottom? $750M, $500M... WGF 2.0?
Revenue is down over 50% in just five years, this certainly can't continue for the rest of the decade.
That is the way MS is headed.
Microsoft Selects Exent Technologies As Worldwide Games-on-Demand Partner for PC Games
August 15, 2005
Microsoft has signed Exent Technologies, the global market leader in secure digital delivery of games on-demand, to be Microsoft?s first worldwide aggregation partner for Games-on-Demand.
Microsoft has granted Exent the right to aggregate Microsoft PC games, including titles from the popular Age of Empires®, Age of Mythology®, Dungeon Siege®, Mechwarrior®, Rise of Nations® and Zoo Tycoon® product lines, making some of the most popular game properties available worldwide for the first time over broadband through Exent?s network of Games-on-Demand service providers.
Exent-powered Games-on-Demand services enable gamers to quickly obtain full-version games without the need to fully download them to their machines. The EXEtender? technology solution helps players to enjoy a console-like gaming experience on the PC platform."
Revenue
US PC Game Software Sales (adjusted for inflation in italics)
1998 - $1.8 billion ($2.1 B)
1999 - $1.9 billion ($2.17 B)
2000 - $1.78 billion ($1.98 B) (84.9 million units)
2001 - $1.75 billion ($1.90 B) (83.6 million units)
2002 - $1.4 billion ($1.49 B) (61.5 million units)
2003 - $1.2 billion ($1.26 B) (52.8 million units)
2004 - $1.1 billion ($1.13 B) (45 million units) [even with Doom3, HL2 and Far Cry]
2005(H1) - down 10.5%
US Console & Handheld Game Software Sales
1998 - $3.7 billion
1999 - $4.2 billion
2000 - $4.1 billion (130.6 million units)
2001 - $4.6 billion (141.5 million units)
2002 - $5.5 billion (162.8 million units)
2003 - $5.8 billion (186.4 million units)
2004 - $6.2 billion (203 million units)
2005(H1) - up 22%
When will PC game sales finally hit bottom? $750M, $500M... WGF 2.0?
Revenue is down over 50% in just five years, this certainly can't continue for the rest of the decade.