Study: German Gaming Business to Top $3.5 Billion by 2015

COLOGNE, Germany - Germany's videogame industry can expect strong growth over the next few years, with revenues forecast to top $3.5 billion (€2.5 billion) by 2015, according to a new study published by research group PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC). The study, put out ahead of next week's gamescom, Europe's largest gaming industry trade fair, includes traditional sales of packed games as well as revenues from online and mobile gaming and in-game advertising. In 2010, according to PWC, the German gaming industry earned some $2.7 billion (€1.9 billion).

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The study suggests mobile games played on smartphones and tablet computers will become even more popular, with an average revenue growth of 16.8 percent over the next four years. Mobile games in Germany will account for nearly $100 million (€69 million) in annual revenue by 2015, according to the study. In four years time, PWC forecasts more than 5 million German users will be paying for games to play on their smartphones, a 40 percent jump on current figures.