Posted on Thursday, July 09 2020 @ 11:46 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
While a lot of industries are in deep trouble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PC gaming market seems to be immune. Analysts from Jon Peddie Research believe sales of PC gaming hardware will boom 10.3 percent year-over-year, to a total of almost $40 billion. The market research outfit writes that shelter-in-place orders have stimulated demand for gaming hardware, while also creating millions of new PC gamers. The
Jon Peddie Research (JPR), the industry's research and consulting firm for graphics and multimedia, reported in its newest gaming market study regarding the PC Gaming Hardware Market, which consists of personal computers, upgrades, and peripherals used for gaming.
The market is booming globally due to shelter in place orders as gamers upgrade and buy new PCs and accessories. Perhaps more importantly, the current situation has actually created millions of new PC gamers looking for immersive, exciting, and economically efficient forms of home entertainment.
Ted Pollak, Senior Analyst Gaming Industry, said “The PC Gaming Hardware market is in a rare scenario where every segment is going up. We see a lot of people buying and upgrading personal and company subsidized computers with better parts, with the intention of playing video games. In the Entry-Level, much of this revenue comes from new gamers.
The 2020 Entry-Level category is forecast to grow 21.7% which is unprecedented and totally unexpected. The Mid-Range has bounced back from a slide; now in positive territory. At the High-End, 1440p+ display sales (spurred by more affordable offerings) created a chain reaction of upgrades as gamers configure rigs for 60+ frames per second.
Due to TV broadcasting of sim racing events, we are observing an uptick in racing simulation builds. These include a high-performance computer often with premium audio, racing wheel/shifter/pedals, sometimes a racing seat, and other elements. Many of the sim racers are new to the market but have money and spend $2,000 - $5,000 on systems, audio, and accessories.”
Jon Peddie, President of JPR says “COVID-19 has created a big spike in sales for PC gaming products in the near term. The total market is approaching $40 billion in 2020. However, we temper our forecasts for possible economic issues in 2021 and beyond. Forecasts are heavily dependent on consumer confidence. Nevertheless, we still predict growth over five years even in the face of a console cycle. We have improved our accessory analysis this year and added a new category for game recording and streaming products. Studio quality cameras and microphones, capture cards, and personal lighting have become common items for high-end gamers and are making their way down into the mass market.”
