The Rise and rise of PC Gaming: 3 reasons why it is still as popular as ever

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In an age of mobile gaming, it seems strange to thinking of desktop gameplay as a dominant market force. With more than 10.68 billion Euros generated through smartphone gaming and the tablet market set to double between now and 2018, many could have been forgiven for desktop gameplay was a moribund concern.

This is not the case, however, and in fact PC gaming has enjoyed something of a renaissance during the last two years. There are multiple factors that have combined to drive this resurgence, many of which will continue to create further momentum in the years to come.

1. The rise of Online Gaming
This is perhaps the most telling factor, as the rise of the casino online platforms has prove d to be a Godsend for PC gaming. After all, this type of live and interactive gaming is tailor made for the desktop platform, while the opportunity for cross-genre experiences through mobile devices is also huge. With this market now worth in excess of $41.3 billion annually and likely to grow further over the next five years, virtual casino and bingo gameplay will continue to drive growth.

The emergence of virtual and augmented reality will also drive this, with desktops ideally placed to capitalise on this technology.

2. Desktop games are being popularised by the power of free
The links between desktop and mobile gaming remain strong, with the former having borrowed heavily from the latter’s underlying business model. With mobile games often free-to-access and inclusive of innovative, tiered subscriptions, they offer the illusion of free to players and empower them with choice in terms of how and where they spend their money. Desktop gaming has benefited from a similar outlook, with many titles now released as episodic updates or digital games that include numerous tiers and paid levels.

If this trend continues as experts forecast that it will, desktop gaming will continue to align with the mobile platform and gain credibility over console alternatives.

3. Desktop gaming is more varied and aligned with modern player demographic
While the news that 52% of all gamers are now female may be something of a surprise, industry insiders have been aware of this gradual demographic shift for years. The shift to female gamers is just the tip of this particular iceberg, however, with the typical gamer now older, well-educated and carrying higher levels of disposable income.

Desktop gaming is more in tune with these demographic shifts than any other platform, offering a huge variety of titles for female players, older gamers and those with the opportunity and autonomy to spend in-game. The close relationship between social gaming and the desktop platform is also a key driver of this, as this type of interactive experience appeals to modern players and has helped to popularise PC’s like never before.

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