China's Gaming Industry Achieves Record Revenue and User Base in 2023
In a remarkable year for the Chinese gaming industry, 2023 saw unprecedented growth with actual sales revenue reaching 302.964 billion CNY, marking a significant 13.95% increase year-over-year and surpassing the 300 billion CNY threshold for the first time.
The domestic gaming market has shown signs of recovery with the user base climbing to a historic peak of 668.09 million, a modest rise of 0.61% compared to the previous year.
Globally, the United States and Japan remain mature markets for Chinese mobile game exports, accounting for 32.51% and 18.87% of the market share, respectively. South Korea holds the third position with 8.18%, while Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada collectively add up to 9.45%.
Mobile games have led the surge in revenue, with a notable year-over-year growth of 17.551%, achieving actual sales revenue of 226.86 billion CNY. Role-playing games (RPGs) dominated the sector, comprising 31% of the top 100 mobile gaming products by revenue. Strategy and card games followed, representing 9% each, while shooting and board games stood at 7%.
RPGs also topped the revenue charts, securing a dominant 29.55% of total income, with multiplayer online tactical competition games trailing at 17.01%.
Client-based games have continued their revenue ascent with an 8.00% increase, whereas web games have experienced a decline, dropping by 10.04%.
Console gaming has seen a revival, generating 2.893 billion CNY in actual sales revenue, a substantial increase of 22.93%.
The esports gaming sector has shown a gradual upward trend, with a 12.85% increase in actual sales revenue, totaling 132.945 billion CNY, credited primarily to the sustained operations of leading esports titles.
The market for ACG (Anime, Comic, and Games) themed mobile games has witnessed a significant revenue spike of 31.01%, indicating a growing interest in this niche.
Interestingly, in-game purchases have seen a sharp increase, while revenue from advertising has experienced a considerable decrease. Casual games have generated 31.841 billion CNY, with in-game purchases alone accounting for 20.087 billion CNY, a staggering 109.7% year-over-year growth. However, advertising revenue has plummeted by 52.7%.
The year's endnote highlights the "Regulations on the Protection of Minors Online," guiding the industry towards improved protection measures for minors. The "Premium Online Game Publishing Project" sets new standards and demands for the industry. The inheritance and promotion of excellent traditional culture have become a consensus in the industry. Technological innovation and cross-industry empowerment are set to further enhance and strengthen. International exchanges and cooperation are expected to become more frequent and in-depth, paving the way for a globally interconnected gaming ecosystem.