Apple Helping to Drive Mobile Game Market Sales to $11.7 Billion by 2014

­The worldwide market for portable and mobile games is expected to grow to $11.7 billion by 2014, with the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch being the primary driver of the market. By 2014, sales for games on the iPhone/iPod Touch are expected to account for about 24% of total portable game software sales, claims a new study from DFC Intelligence.

"The dedicated portable game systems from companies like Nintendo and Sony are still expected to lead the market, but it appears growth for these devices has peaked. The platforms from Apple are expected to be responsible for the bulk of market growth over the next few years," says DFC analyst David Cole.

DFC also released some results from a study on the mobile game habits of over 8,000 game players in North America and Europe.

In total, 54% of respondents in North America and 69% of respondents in Europe had played a game on their mobile phone in the past year. Furthermore, 45% of respondents in North America and 36% in Europe had paid to purchase an application for their mobile phone. Among respondents, the App Store was already the most popular service for making purchases.

Across both North America and Europe about 15% of respondents already owned an iPhone or iPod Touch, compared with 29% that owned a Nintendo DS.

According to Greg Uhler of iPhone games developer, Oceanhouse Media Development Director, "with the iPhone and iPod Touch, Apple has finally delivered mobile developers a platform with an attractive business model and a rapidly growing installed base of active consumers." Of course, the iPhone is about more than just games. "Games are expected to account for only about 23% of application sales on the iPhone," says Michel Kripalani, President of Oceanhouse Media. "There are many fantastic opportunities for non-game related content on both the iPhone and iPod Touch. These devices, when combined with Apple's business model, are a much needed revolution for the mobile market."

Posted to the site on 22nd October 2009