China is already a thriving region for consoles, from PS5 to Nintendo Switch via Xbox Series.

A few days ago we learned about the unprecedented success of PlayStation in the market, but it is not the leading console.

China has been the world’s number one market for video game revenue for several years now, but consoles have captured little of that lead so far. According to Daniel Ahmed, a well-known industry analyst for the Asian market, there is a real demand for this type of hardware. We already knew very little about PlayStation, but the PS5 isn’t even the best-selling system among an audience getting used to these devices.

Console revenue increased by more than 15% in China in 2021The overall size of the console market in China was $2,160 million in 2021, a turnover that represents 16.7% growth over the previous period, if not yet “amazing”. If Ahmed’s prophecies come true, In 2026, the industry will be able to generate $2,530 million in 2026it stems both from the demand for current generation consoles and from the greater demand by the public for high-budget developments.

Xbox Series X in addition to PS5 with PS4 | S is also increasing the number of Xbox One. Of course as in many other markets as well as Nintendo Switch rules and in other countries the demand for these products in the stores is higher than the stockso it may take time to know its true effect.

Spending on console players

Ahmed realizes that console folks are more likely to spend money on video games than computers and mobile devices. Thus, 28% of its users spend more than RMB 70 per month on consoles, while it is lower for PCs and mobile phones: 18% among PC users and 22% among smartphone users.

However, today gray (or unauthorized) market It remains the main source of income for the purchase of video games for consoles in China, and this is something motivated by the few license permits issued by the People’s Republic bureaucracy. Thus, 79.8% of total software and service demand in China came from these distribution channels, regardless of Beijing’s decisions. It should be noted that although China officially lifted the veto on console sales in 2014, it imposes many restrictions on its consumption.

Both PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo now have an increasingly relevant market in China that needs more attention. According to Sony, while China is already the sixth PS5 consuming country, it did not make the top 10 in the PS4 generation.