The implementation of game content has tripled the value of the gaming industry, according to a study by Digital River.
The report states that developers of any size benefit from “a constant stream of content in the game that meets the expectations of players and increases revenue from each user.”
This applies not only to shareware titles. In 2016, a quarter of all gaming revenue came from the sale of additional content.
The report also says that digital trading opportunities have influenced gamers’ preferences. Now they are more likely to pay a little extra for regular content updates than to spend $60 dollars once on a box version of the game without the prospect of additions.
Publishers meet the wishes of customers and release new games less often, prolonging the existence of existing ones with regular updates and additions.
Digital River called this model of the economy “games as a service”.
According to the researchers, due to the transition from paying the final cost to time-stretched spending, the income from each user in the gaming industry will grow twice as fast as in the rest of the market.
You can read the full text of the study at the link (registration is required).
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