iGaming Business – A report from market research company Newzoo predicts that Americans will have spent $20.5 billion (€15 billion) on games by the end of 2013, with 65% of the total spend coming through digital purchases.
Newzoo’s report said that about $13.3 billion of the revenue would be generated through digital means via online downloads, PCs, smartphones and tablets.
In comparison, $6.4 billion will have flowed through retail sales of boxed games, just 31% of the overall figure.
Digital gaming spend in the US is also expected to experience a 2% year-on-year growth, while retail game sales is predicted to drop by about 10%.
The report also highlighted that a total of 170 million Americans currently play games with 60% of those players spending money at an average of $16.50 per month.
Only China has more players spending money on gaming, but at half the monthly average of US users.
In terms of the fastest-growing gaming category, the Newzoo report picked out tablet gaming, which has a compound annual growth of 47.6% in 2013 compared to just 18.8% for smartphone gaming.
The report also said that cross-screen gaming is growing in popularity in the US, which in turn has led to an increase in the amount of time gamers spend playing.
Over 40 million players participate in OC, TV, smartphone and tablet or handheld gaming, a significant increase on the 30 million recorded just two years ago.
Only China and Spain have a higher share of players that access games on all four major screens.
