Worldwide Digital PC and Mac Gaming Forecast, 2023–2027: ARPU Ticks Up as MAUs Flatline and Live Service Games Shine

IDC Market Forecast Figure

• Figure: Worldwide Digital PC and Mac Gaming Spending Snapshot

Executive Summary

Advice for Technology Suppliers

Market Forecast

• Worldwide

• Table: Worldwide Digital PC Gamers and Revenue by Segment, 2018–2027

• Figure: Worldwide PC Gamer Monthly ARPU or ARPPU by Business Model Segment and Aggregate ARPU, 2022–2027

• Figure: Worldwide Consumer PC Installed Base by Region, 2022 and 2027

• Figure: Approximate Competitive Positioning of the Top 12 PC/Mac Games by MAU Base, 2Q23

• Client-Based Subscription Games

• Paid Digital Games, Add-On/DLC, and Season/Battle Passes

• Client-Based Free-to-Play Games

• Web Browser–Based Instant, .IO, and Web3 Games

• Cloud-Streamed Games

• North America

• Table: North America Digital PC Gamers and Revenue by Segment, 2018–2027

• Western Europe

• Table: Western Europe Digital PC Gamers and Revenue by Segment, 2018–2027

• Asia/Pacific (Including Japan)

• Table: Asia/Pacific (Including Japan) Digital PC Gamers and Revenue by Segment, 2018–2027

• Rest of World

• Table: Rest of World Digital PC Gamers and Revenue by Segment, 2018–2027

Market Context

• Drivers and Inhibitors

• Drivers

• Esports and Live Service Games

• The Popularity of Live Streamed and VOD Gameplay Content

• Inhibitors

• Macroeconomic Inflation in Key Markets

• Heavy-Handed Gaming Regulations in China

• The Russia–Ukraine War

• Significant Market Developments

• Changes from Prior Forecast

• Figure: Worldwide Digital PC Gaming Revenue, 2018–2027: Comparison of September 2022 and September 2023 Forecasts

Market Definition

Methodology

Related Research