Mobile game revenues forecasted to reach $18B in 2014

Surging mobile subscriber growth in emerging markets and increased use in developed markets will translate to gaming revenues of $18 billion by 2014--a 16.6 percent CAGR--according to a new forecast issued by market analysis firm Pyramid Research. "Although most in emerging markets cannot afford sophisticated devices, they are eager to experiment and use mobile data services; this is true for both mobile communications and entertainment, of which mobile videogames are a major driving force," said Pyramid manager of mobile content Jan ten Sythoff in a prepared statement. "For many users, handsets are the first device they own that enables access to electronic forms of entertainment. Declining handset and data access prices have been central to the increased use of data services in emerging economies; also, because devices such as PCs and gaming consoles are less common, the mobile phone has become the primary device for accessing content such as websites and games. This, combined with improving economic conditions, is resulting in increased adoption of mobile content and data services."

Pyramid cites changes fueled by Apple's App Store as the catalyst behind mobile gaming growth in mature markets, crediting the iPhone for stimulating competition and consumer interest in mobile gaming.

For more on the Pyramid forecast:
- read this release

Related articles:
Subscribers don't need an iPhone to play mobile games
iPhone titles now 10 percent of North American mobile game market