Online Gaming Subscriptions Rise In 2005

May Wong of the Associated Press (via USA Today) writes:

Worldwide online game subscription revenue grew 43% to $2 billion in 2005, according to a video gaming market research firm.

Online subscriptions remain a fraction of the estimated $29 billion in overall video game sales in 2005, but San Diego, Calif.-based DFC Intelligence expects the segment will reach $6.8 billion in sales by 2011.

“It’s on the cusp of strong growth and becoming a mainstream part of gaming,” said DFC’s president David Cole…

Hardly surprising, especially to me - someone who’s got two level-capped World of Warcraft characters in spite of swearing I wouldn’t touch the cursed, addicting, soul-sucking game a year ago (thanks, Dave). I’m just lucky that my girlfriend tolerates the use of valuable time it takes away from other stuff we could be doing.

Her character should be reaching level 60 by the weekend. Sigh. Damn you, Blizzard!

[tags]world of warcraft,blizzard,online gaming,may wong,david cole[/tags]