Post-Pandemic Gaming: PC, Console Growth Slows with Reduced Player Hours!

The number of gamers has been noted less compared to pre-pandemic highs. One of the most important reasons why experts are predicting to continue this trend due to fewer blockbuster releases.

As per the new research firm Newzoo, this trend might negatively impact the personal computing and console gaming revenue growth, which might go lower than pre-pandemic levels through 2026 due to recording fewer hours of playtime by gamers.

The report says that the personal computing and console gaming revenue growth rate was 7.2% from 2015 to 2011, which is not expected to grow only 2.7%.

For your knowledge, the average quarterly playtime fell from 2021 to 2023 due to recording fewer hours of play. The weaker gaming release schedules are responsible to continue this trend in the coming year with recording 10% fall in the playtime of gamers during January. AS per Newzoo, the gaming industry’s capacity will be negatively impacted due to the slower player growth rates.

The leading Japan’s Sony Group had already declared in February that the gaming freaks might get a bit depressed as they do not have any plan to launch any major franchise titles like “Marvel’s Spider-Man” and “God of War” in the coming fiscal year. This news has already brought up the bad feelings amidst the gaming users.

The weaker-than-expected sales in the last few months promoted the company to cut full-year sales forecast for its popular PlayStation 5 consoles. As per the reports, hundreds of employees have already been laid off by leading industry giants like Electronic Arts, Tencent Holdings’ Riot Games and Sony. They also scaled back operations as per their company’s need.

The number of publishers has also been decreased, may be with a much-needed requirement of gaming industry consolidation. As a response, several companies are struggling to improve the player engagement.

The report suggested throughout 2023, an unexpected range of publishers approximately 28 to 34 held sway more than 80% of the monthly active users, which is known as a decline in the numbers seen in 2021.

Simultaneously, 27% capturing of all playtime was done by five popular titles like “Grand Theft Auto V”, “Minecraft”, “League of Legends”, “Roblox” and “Fortnite” in the previous year.