San Diego – The market for English-language, free-to-play PC
games is expected to grow from $250 million in 2009 to $2 billion by 2015, according
to a report from market research firm DFC Intelligence.
The firm credits
broadband adoption, a growing willingness of consumers to buy digital content,
and improved payment options like prepaid retail cards.
Free-to-play games
allow consumers to download and play for free, with the option to purchase virtual
goods, or upgrade to a more fully-featured subscription tier.
By year’s end,
such games are projected to count 128 million registered users.
The firm cites
frustration from Korean game companies at the relatively "immature infrastructure
and a lack of established payment and service mechanisms" in North
America.
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