It is no longer a secret that free-to-play titles no longer have to hide from their older siblings with subscription or other payment models. How much the predominantly free games are now outranking their predecessors was highlighted for the first time in a detailed study. It is also interesting that the MMO market continues to grow.
F2P generates three times as much in the MMO market
Just based on the numbers from 2013, it is already clear that “free” games have a significantly greater relevance than pay-to-play variants. Last year, only $2.8 billion was generated through traditional payment models, whereas the F2P market amounts to over a whopping $7.5 billion.
The end of the line is still a long way off, because if one believes the study, development in both areas will continue. Projections for 2017 already suggest that the profits from F2P games will rise to $11.1 billion, while the second group will continue to shrink to only $1.7 billion.
Other games still have a right to exist
The study also highlights that despite these changes in the market, the “classic” purchase models still hold a firm place, as players often engage in their hobby on multiple platforms (PC, console, mobile, etc.), and each time a major title is released, a small dip in the F2P market is noticeable. Finding the balance between these two groups is the biggest challenge for companies in order to continue to attract key markets in America and Europe.
The Top 10 – LoL at the top, WoW solid
For the most successful games on the market, a separate list has been prepared, and it will probably not surprise anyone that League of Legends leads the list this year, with revenues of over $940 million – and these are just the numbers up to the end of September. Even though World of Warcraft has lost a position, the MMORPG giant is still doing significantly better than the noisy doubters have always suggested, landing at a solid 4th place with $728 million. Especially the sale of pets, mounts, and account services like character transfers is experiencing high demand. Slightly trailing in revenues, World of Tanks also secures 5th place this year ($369 million), and the newcomer Hearthstone manages to debut at the last spot of the top 10 with $114 million.
Although voices in the forums are becoming increasingly louder that “the time for MMOs is running out,” those who are pronounced dead have notoriously longer lives; the MMO market has grown by a whopping 20% – and there is still no end in sight.
Those who wish to read the entire “MMO Report” by SuperData, however, will find themselves out of luck, as it is only available for a casual $2000. No wonder, given the value this document could hold.
