Home Gaming Report: PC and console gaming to decline

Report: PC and console gaming to decline

1 min read
103

decline

Right now, thanks to the new consoles and the games that accompany them, video games as an industry are on an upswing. They’re not the only thing contributing to the gaming market’s revenue incline though; free-to-play games are generating more income than most of us core gamers would like. Still, they’re not enough to keep things swimming; according to a report we can expect a sharp drop in PC and console gaming in 2019.

According to Juniper Research, the industry will see a rather significant decline in 2019, falling from the current $46.5 billion global income to a less impressive $41 billion. I’m using words instead of numbers, in case a zero or five go missing.

They say that PC and console gaming will still be generating half of the industry’s income by 2019, despite the 12 percent drop. They expect that PC and and console software sales “will remain relatively healthy,” though they do expect PC games to start outselling their console counterparts.

Not included in those figures are handheld gaming consoles, which Juniper expects to still be relevant in 2019. They believe that dedicated handheld gaming hardware will still account for about $2.2 billion in revenues in 2019. They also believe that cloud gaming will have taken off enough by then, with services like PlayStation now and other internet-streamed gaming to generate $1 billion annually in five years.

The most interesting thing about their report is that they expect this generation of consoles to be a short one; they’re expecting Sony and Microsoft to announce new hardware in just five years time. With how underpowered these consoles are when compared to moderately priced PC hardware, I can actually see gamers wanting this generation of consoles to be a shorter one. Whether or not Sony and Microsoft will be willing to cut this generation short is a different matter.

Last Updated: July 23, 2014

103 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief Saxon

    July 23, 2014 at 10:04

    I don’t trust Geoff figures….

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      July 23, 2014 at 10:15

      Well he’s using words not zeros this time 😛

      Reply

      • ToshZA

        July 23, 2014 at 10:57

        Maybe he does have some asian blood. Smart move on his part. 😛

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      July 23, 2014 at 10:15

      Well he’s using words not zeros this time 😛

      Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 23, 2014 at 10:20

      Agreed. Oh, and I found these lying about 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 0

      Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 23, 2014 at 10:20

      Agreed. Oh, and I found these lying about 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 00 0 0 0

      Reply

  2. ToshZA

    July 23, 2014 at 10:04

    So analysts are expecting a Jewish generation then?

    Reply

  3. Sir Rants A Lot Llew

    July 23, 2014 at 10:06

    But why? It’s all fine stating that a study reveals this but why?

    Is it because of the current business model? I believe it’s because they think that in-app and in-game purchases will slow as people become more and more bored with their games and start to expect more and more for even less.

    The free-2-play model is why it’s going to decline. That on top of games being released half finished, I’m not surprised

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 23, 2014 at 10:24

      I wouldn’t be surprised to see a F2P bubble bursting. Most of them are big time sinks & if every pub, dev & his dog are releasing them, only so many will be played & a few will be expensive losers.

      Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 23, 2014 at 10:24

      I wouldn’t be surprised to see a F2P bubble bursting. Most of them are big time sinks & if every pub, dev & his dog are releasing them, only so many will be played & a few will be expensive losers.

      Reply

    • Wyzak

      July 23, 2014 at 10:38

      Yeah, the ‘why’ would be very interesting. Are they predicting that the free-to-play bubble will burst? I definitely am.

      Otherwise I simply don’t see why gaming would decline.

      Reply

    • Weanerdog

      July 23, 2014 at 15:01

      I would guess that they are expecting the One to tank and MS to go balls to the wall to get the Two out, but effectively letting the One die in a corner.

      Secondly huge early adaption for the current gen hardware from a similar total install base last time round. Everyone is getting it earlier.

      Third they are probably expecting an economic downturn in 2019, hence less disposable income laying around.

      Fourth I am using written numbers so that the zeros don’t go missing.

      Fifth I don’t know what I am talking about so I am as qualified as most economists.

      Sixth, There is no point number 6, which makes this a conundrum.

      Seventh, it is what they are expecting the sales cycle to look like, new stuff lots of sales then this slows until more new stuff and they are expecting that in 2020 clearly.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants A Lot Llew

        July 23, 2014 at 15:14

        wooooooooah. Mind = Blown

        Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    July 23, 2014 at 10:14

    They might be underpowered. But their hardware is much more dedicated towards games. And it shows.

    Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      July 23, 2014 at 10:42

      I agree that they are more dedicated to gaming but does it really show? You can already build a PC that outperforms consoles for around the same price.

      Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 23, 2014 at 10:43

        Or if you already have a pc, add two pieces of hardware that makes it better for half the price.

        Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          July 23, 2014 at 11:29

          So you add a new keyboard and mouse?

          😉

          Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        July 23, 2014 at 10:44

        If a game hits 1080p & 60fps on a console it doesn’t matter if the PC outperforms it.

        Reply

        • Praise Lord GabeN

          July 23, 2014 at 10:55

          Not sure if sarcasm…

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 11:02

            lol. This is one of the rare exceptions to the rule that if you’re unsure the answer is probably yes.

          • Praise Lord GabeN

            July 23, 2014 at 11:12

            You know 4D Boxing released for PC in 1991 will hit 1080p @ 60fps on the PS4?

        • ToshZA

          July 23, 2014 at 10:58

          Nobody knows for sure yet though.

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        July 23, 2014 at 10:46

        For me yes. Especially the jump form PS3 to PS4. Infamous is testament to that. Plus Destiny is really fun to play. I really hope it comes to PC.

        Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    July 23, 2014 at 10:14

    They might be underpowered. But their hardware is much more dedicated towards games. And it shows.

    Reply

  6. Ryanza

    July 23, 2014 at 10:15

    Console games and PC games are very different. On consoles you buy more games for achievements as an example, and then sell those games you don’t like.
    On PC you can’t sell your games. So your buying options become very limited. Do I really need another Call of Duty as an example.

    So if predictions are that game sales will decrease and you grouping PC and consoles together, then that leads me to believe that more people will go back to PC gaming.

    The current consoles are like 3 – 4 years behind the PC. So in another 5 years time, games on the consoles will look really old compared to PC. I left Xbox 360 about 3 years ago because games where looking really old and playing like they were old.

    Reply

    • Rince&pop

      July 23, 2014 at 10:21

      Erm, I think if you asked @Admiral_Chief:disqus how many games he has in his backlog you’d find his buying options are pretty much 1000 times bigger than those of console chaps.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        July 23, 2014 at 10:22

        He actually plans to play some of them one of these days 😛

        Reply

        • Rince&pop

          July 23, 2014 at 10:23

          LIES!

          Reply

        • Rince&pop

          July 23, 2014 at 10:23

          LIES!

          Reply

        • Sith JJ

          July 23, 2014 at 10:23

          I’m trying to decide right now which to play next

          Reply

        • Sith JJ

          July 23, 2014 at 10:23

          I’m trying to decide right now which to play next

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief Saxon

          July 23, 2014 at 10:24

          I’ve actually finished 4 of them in the last month

          Reply

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 10:28

            I finished TWD Season 1 on Sunday, now to decide what next to play. In addition to Warframe heh.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:29

            I’m considering starting WarGame

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 10:31

            All the AC:U articles make me think I should get around to finishing AC Revelations. Well, restarting anyway.

          • Admiral Chief Saxon

            July 23, 2014 at 10:31

            My revelations are sitting in a box, un-revealed…

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:41

            I would play The Forest, but I’m too scared to play it at night.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 10:42

            Use a nightlight. Duh. Erm… that’s er.. what we used to do when my niece played games at night.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:43

            LOL.
            I’m actually patiently waiting for the co-op mode, then I don’t have to soil myself alone.

          • Admiral Chief Saxon

            July 23, 2014 at 10:43

            Busted

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:32

            You’re better than that Emperor. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 10:55

            But I like AC. 🙁

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 11:00

            Oh wow. Sorry to hear. 😉

        • Admiral Chief Saxon

          July 23, 2014 at 10:24

          I’ve actually finished 4 of them in the last month

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        July 23, 2014 at 10:22

        He actually plans to play some of them one of these days 😛

        Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 23, 2014 at 10:23

        Admiral Chief is but a muggle

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Saxon

          July 23, 2014 at 10:24

          Don’t think cuz you gave me DXHR DC that I won’t spoil TFU for you

          Reply

        • Admiral Chief Saxon

          July 23, 2014 at 10:24

          Don’t think cuz you gave me DXHR DC that I won’t spoil TFU for you

          Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 23, 2014 at 10:23

        Admiral Chief is but a muggle

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief Saxon

        July 23, 2014 at 10:25

        Sitting on about 50 or 60 now

        Reply

        • Sith JJ

          July 23, 2014 at 10:26

          That’s your problem right there. No sitting on games.

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief Saxon

            July 23, 2014 at 10:27

            They are digital so I can!

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:28

            With yo big digital ass

    • Rince&pop

      July 23, 2014 at 10:21

      Erm, I think if you asked @Admiral_Chief:disqus how many games he has in his backlog you’d find his buying options are pretty much 1000 times bigger than those of console chaps.

      Reply

    • Praise Lord GabeN

      July 23, 2014 at 10:37

      Buying options are limited on PC?
      – PC games are a lot cheaper.
      – Steam achievements (and trading cards, which you can sell for real $$$)
      – Bigger games library
      – Lord GabeN’s unwavering love

      Cheers!

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        July 23, 2014 at 10:56

        Not what I was saying. People buy less PC games not that people have less games to buy.

        Games are cheaper but there are more sales on consoles.
        People don’t buy PC games for achievements and trading cards.
        No second hand market, so less impulse purchases.
        DRM so no internet no play.

        And Gabe is no lord. A Devil, yes. DRM is the devils work. Gabe/devil’s greatest trick is to convince the world that Steam is not DRM.

        Reply

        • Praise Lord GabeN

          July 23, 2014 at 11:08

          Are you serious? Not sure if trolling or serious. (I’m always serious if you ever wondered).

          “Games are cheaper but there are more sales on consoles”
          I nearly spit out my coffee while reading this.

          “People don’t buy PC games for achievements and trading cards.”
          They don’t? OK, if you say so.

          “No second hand market, so less impulse purchases.”
          I guess that’s why most steam users are not complaining about the huge backlog of games they have. 😉

          “DRM so no internet no play.”

          Didn’t the PS4 and Xbone had a day1 mandatory internet patch? I guess if you don’t have internet then PC is not for you. You probably also doesn’t have running water and sanitation. Are you part of the poo protesters?

          Steam is DRM Ryanza, but you don’t see me complaining with my huge gaming library and my pockets full of cash. Did I mention you can play Steam games offline?

          Reply

          • Ryanza

            July 23, 2014 at 11:34

            It’s funny how playing games on PC = Steam Steam Steam Steam. Steam let’s you play your games in offline mode. But they don’t mention that Steam won’t let you play your games in offline mode forever. Few weeks and Steam says time to connect to the internet.

            I would say that there are more people in this country that doesn’t have fixed internet in their homes. I think that applies to a lot of countries in this world.
            So when PC games = Steam, Origin, Uplay, online DRM and not a PC, then there’s something really wrong.

            So all those who don’t have internet and who can’t play games, they love to complain on Steam? I try to look at the point of view of a person who can’t play games because they don’t have internet and your view is that every1 has internet and loves Steam. YA.

            I don’t think, that for a long time now, when it comes to multiplatform games, that units sold, has always been way less on the PC. So I don’t know why you spitting coffee. More people have PC’s on this planet than consoles and PC games don’t sell as much units as console games and you got to ask Steam why and spit some coffee on Gabe.

            Steam sales and cheap ass games, doesn’t help out the PC games market at all. New games bought at launch helps not waiting for a game to become dirt cheap. Second hand game market helps the new game purchases.

            One of these days you wont even need a PC to play PC games. You will just need internet and Steam.

  7. Ryanza

    July 23, 2014 at 10:15

    Console games and PC games are very different. On consoles you buy more games for achievements as an example, and then sell those games you don’t like.
    On PC you can’t sell your games. So your buying options become very limited. Do I really need another Call of Duty as an example.

    So if predictions are that game sales will decrease and you grouping PC and consoles together, then that leads me to believe that more people will go back to PC gaming.

    The current consoles are like 3 – 4 years behind the PC. So in another 5 years time, games on the consoles will look really old compared to PC. I left Xbox 360 about 3 years ago because games where looking really old and playing like they were old.

    Reply

  8. Sith JJ

    July 23, 2014 at 10:19

    The pc generation is getting old and dying out while the console gamers are getting too young to hold a controller?

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 23, 2014 at 10:36

      They can have my kb&m when they pry it from my cold dead hands!

      Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 23, 2014 at 10:39

        Actually I wouldn’t mind someone breaking my current KB. It’s so crappy.
        Cost me a full R80.

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          July 23, 2014 at 10:41

          Why don’t you take advantage of the Steelseries deal that’s on this month? 30% off a new kb if you trade in your old one & it still works.

          Reply

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:42

            Sounds cool. But…..there’s always a but. How much is a Steelseries KB?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 10:45

            I’m severely tempted by the Apex Raw, it’s around R550 after the discount from BT Games.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:46

            That’s not so bad at all. I’m not picky at all when it comes to my kb (you may gasp now).

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 10:48

            Plus it’s backlit. I’ll never get a non-backlit kb again – so handy & cool.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:50

            You had me at backlit. Never had one, but now I want one.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:50

            You had me at backlit. Never had one, but now I want one.

          • Matthew Holliday

            July 23, 2014 at 11:17

            backlighting is overated.
            if you can type without looking at the keys, you dont need it.
            Rather go for mechanical, makes typing a breeze.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 11:18

            I’ve heard, but my issue has always been the price, unfortunately. Though those mechanical kbs are so damn nice.

          • Matthew Holliday

            July 23, 2014 at 11:22

            All keyboards are expensive lately, lol
            I got this when it was on special.

            corsair vengeance:
            http://www.takealot.com/corsair-vengeance-series-k60-fps-mechanical-gaming-keyboard/PLID29706795
            vs the Apex raw for example
            http://www.takealot.com/steelseries-apex-raw-keyboard-pc/PLID27882235

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 11:24

            That corsair. I’ve always been a sucker for corsair hardware.

          • Matthew Holliday

            July 23, 2014 at 11:15

            is the Raw backlit?
            i thought only the colourfull version was backlit?

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 11:22

            Yip, white backlighting.

          • Matthew Holliday

            July 23, 2014 at 11:13

            The Apex Raw isnt too expensive on its own, depending on the value of what you’re trading in, it might not even be worth it.

          • Matthew Holliday

            July 23, 2014 at 11:10

            “up to 30% off”

            they’ll “evaluate” how much your mouse and keyboard are worth against the value of the item you want to buy.

            If i trade my Razer Elektras in, I reckon Id get 10% off on the new Siberia Elites.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 11:21

            Their flyer specifically says 10% if it doesn’t work, 30% if it does & nothing else. Although there are the little weasel words of T&Cs apply in very small print.

  9. Sith JJ

    July 23, 2014 at 10:19

    The pc generation is getting old and dying out while the console gamers are getting too young to hold a controller?

    Reply

  10. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 23, 2014 at 10:22

    And the best part of this research for Juniper Research is by the time 2019 comes around everyone will have forgotten about these predictions so if they turn out rather inaccurate, like so many of these predictions do, it won’t affect their business because they’ll be getting paid for 2024 predictions.

    Reply

    • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

      July 23, 2014 at 11:14

      I just wanna know how they get to these predictions. Because if they hired one of Nostradamus’ illegitimate descendents, I’m less than impressed. BUT… if they used a magic 8 ball.. good on them. 😉

      Reply

  11. Alien Emperor Trevor

    July 23, 2014 at 10:22

    And the best part of this research for Juniper Research is by the time 2019 comes around everyone will have forgotten about these predictions so if they turn out rather inaccurate, like so many of these predictions do, it won’t affect their business because they’ll be getting paid for 2024 predictions.

    Reply

  12. Sith JJ

    July 23, 2014 at 10:24

    I don’t see any numbers on the axes of that graph in the header. I call bulls%(*&

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      July 23, 2014 at 10:26

      YOU HAVE MY AXE!

      Reply

      • Sith JJ

        July 23, 2014 at 10:27

        Axes is the plural of axis. Beehaatch

        Reply

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          July 23, 2014 at 10:30

          I know. I made an axe joke anyway. BIATCH!

          Reply

        • ToshZA

          July 23, 2014 at 10:55

          It’s also the plural of axe. Just depends on how you pronounce it, really.

          http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/axes

          Reply

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 10:59

            I know, but we’re playing on the header there.

          • ToshZA

            July 23, 2014 at 11:00

            You are. Trev’s playing with sharp, usually double bladed objects.

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 11:01

            O_O

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            July 23, 2014 at 11:07

            Now you ruined the surprise…

          • Sith JJ

            July 23, 2014 at 11:08

            I’ve laughed way too hard at some of your comments this week.

          • ToshZA

            July 23, 2014 at 11:09

            If you thought that’d surprise people man…

  13. Sith JJ

    July 23, 2014 at 10:24

    I don’t see any numbers on the axes of that graph in the header. I call bulls%(*&

    Reply

  14. MakeItLegal

    July 23, 2014 at 10:35

    DLC is to blame !give us whole games day 1 – that work BF4 !

    Reply

  15. Ottokie

    July 23, 2014 at 11:04

    Not too worried, I am pretty sure I will still enjoy Final Fantasy 8 in 2019 😛

    Reply

  16. Lizzard

    July 23, 2014 at 11:16

    I always have trouble with things like this….
    1) what of inflation? These numbers suggest more than a 9% decline….
    2) what of new consumers, markets, ideas, trends.

    To add to it, I agree that the console generation being shorter, due to tech changing so quickly – The trick here will be hassle free backwards compatibility to encourage the sale of new “generations”

    Reply

    • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

      July 23, 2014 at 11:17

      I think they’re counting on WW3 or the Great Depression in order to ignore inflation. 😉

      Reply

  17. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    July 23, 2014 at 14:20

    The cloud is a lie?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

NZXT’s H1 PC case finally recalled for being too spontaneously flammable

PC hardware is expected to do a lot at any given time, but at the bare minimum, users do r…