Today, the NPD group has shared figures for the digital PC markets and PC gaming hardware/accessories. Both the markets growth defied the earlier analyst predictions.
In 2020 Consumers spent a total of $4.5 billion on hardware and accessories, which is 62% greater than the amount spent in 2019 and twice of what the amount was spent in 2017. Digital gaming also witnessed a 19% growth per year.
The press release also recognized PC headsets, monitors, and keyboards as the fastest-growing categories. PC gaming accessories witnessed an 81% sales growth.
The technology advisor at NPD, Stephen Baker, wrote in the press release:
COVID-19 lockdown measures played a role in the growth we’re seeing in PC gaming, as consumers looked for ways to stay entertained while spending more time at home. Following a historic 2020, with multiple years of growth all happening in one year, we are forecasting 3% growth for PC gaming hardware and accessories in 2021. While we remain optimistic about the outlook for PC gaming hardware and accessories for the future and expect the segment’s growth rate will exceed that of the total industry, we do not expect ongoing incremental dollar increases, but rather a plateauing of demand at these new elevated levels.
The video game industry analyst for NPD, Mat Piscatella, stated:
PC gaming is the most innovative, open, and content-diverse segment in the video game industry. It is also one of the most accessible, as many households have a desktop or laptop computer. Over the course of 2020, there was a significant increase in both the number of PC video game players as well as the time and money those players invested in PC gaming.
As per NPD’s Evolution of Entertainment report, 40% of the US-based consumers had an interest in PC gaming, and a 4% increase is observed as compared to 2019. The time spent on gaming has also witnessed a 14% growth compared to last year.
Via NPD Group