Arcade Gaming Market Trends, Size, Share & Forecast | 2031 (2024)

Global Arcade Gaming Market size was valued at USD 3.79 billion in 2022 and is poised to grow from USD 3.98 billion in 2023 to USD 5.95 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.14% during the forecast period (2024-2031).

Arcade gaming refers to the gaming done on arcade machines that are usually installed in public places. Arcade games usually don’t have a conclusion, and this is why players can play them endlessly without getting bored of it. Increasing establishments of commercial gaming parlors and rising installation of arcade machines in malls and other public spaces are also estimated to bolster the arcade gaming market growth over the coming years. Moreover, the major trend in the market is the integration of virtual reality into arcade games. As, this incorporation helps in providing an immersive virtual experience to the people, which further results in more demand for VR-based arcade games. Therefore, the arcade game businesses need to leverage this trend. However, the high costs of arcade machines and the large space required to store them are projected to be key constraints for the arcade gaming market across the forecast period and beyond.

Market Snapshot - 2024-2031

The global arcade gaming market is segmented by type, genre, end-users, and region. Based on type, the market is segmented into video games, simulation games, and mechanical games. Based on genre, the market is segmented into racing, fighting, puzzle, and others. Further, by genre, the market is segmented into gaming hubs, semi-commercial, and residential. Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

Analysis by Type

By type, the market is segmented into video games, simulation games, and mechanical games. Video games are the sub-segment that dominates the market, this is attributed to the nostalgia of the people associated with video gaming, and also video gaming is very appealing to a diverse demographic of people. As the older generation revives their 80s and 90s arcade culture whereas the youngsters through video gaming experience the delight of physical controls. Alongside, video gaming also provides ease of playing at home.

However, the demand for simulation games is predicted to increase at a rapid pace in the global arcade gaming market going forward. Simulation games help people develop critical thinking and with most people trying to improve their mental health, they are more inclined to play simulation games to enjoy and build good mental health at the same time.

Analysis by Genre

By application, the market can be segmented into Racing, fighting, puzzle, and others. The fighting genre is the dominant sub-segment, this is fuelled by technological advancement as well as the innovative game design of the fighting arcade games. Some of the games like Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter have become cultural icons and have gained a loyal fan base that surpasses numerous generations. Along with this, the advancement in the virtual effects in the fighting genre games has also attracted people, which further surges the demand for this genre of games.

Meanwhile, the demand for puzzle games in arcade gaming is forecasted to surge at a rapid pace over the coming years. An increasing number of people wanting to pick their brains while having a fun time is forecasted to bolster the demand for puzzle arcade games in the future. Moreover, the rising availability of unique puzzle games will also contribute to the rapid growth of this segment over the coming years.

North America dominated the global arcade gaming market, as it holds 40% of the market share. The dominance of this region is due to the technological advancement and innovations in the arcade game products of this region. Further, the exponential financial growth as well as the efficient marketing strategies have also resulted in the great demand for arcade games in North America. The United States and Canada are the two key countries that will allow the North American region to hold its dominant stance across the forecast period while losing some market share to the Asia Pacific region.

On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is considered the fastest-growing regional market for arcade gaming. The Far East and Japan are the leading regions in the Asia Pacific arcade gaming market, this is due to the presence of companies like Sony and Nintendo, which introduced innovations to the arcade games. The exponential growth in these countries is attributed to the presence of arcade games with innovative graphics, also surging the demand for arcade gaming market. China and India are also estimated to emerge as highly opportune spaces for arcade gaming companies in the future.

Drivers

Rise of Retro Gaming

• Nostalgia plays a crucial role in the rise of retro gaming as older people revive their memories through arcade games. Arcade games are simple but enjoyable and this is one of the key factors that is giving rise to the retro gamin trend and driving arcade gaming market growth as well.

Surge in Disposable Income

• General disposable income levels have increased globally and this has led to increased spending on leisure activities around the world. Arcade gaming is one of the key businesses benefitting from rising disposable income as people are more inclined to spend on something fun.

Restraints

Popularity of Online Games

• Online games are easily accessible from anywhere in the world and provide a certain type of experience that cannot be replicated by arcade gaming. Hence, increasing number of online gamers could hamper the overall arcade gaming market growth in the long run.

High Operational Costs

• Setting up and maintaining an arcade game machine can be quite heavy on the wallet of people as well as organizations and these high costs are projected to impede the demand for arcade gaming across the forecast period and beyond.

The global arcade gaming market is characterized by intense competition among key players striving to gain a significant market share. Established companies and new entrants are focusing on product innovation, research and development, and strategic partnerships to stay ahead in the market. Key players are also emphasizing the development of customer-specific and region-specific products to cater to diverse consumer preferences. Mergers and acquisitions are common strategies employed to expand market reach and enhance product portfolios. The competitive landscape is dynamic, with players striving to meet evolving consumer demands and gain a competitive edge in the market. Arcade gaming providers can focus on capitalizing on the retro gaming trend to generate more revenue. Companies can also collaborate with digital game developers to create arcade versions of their games for arcade enthusiasts to enjoy.

Top Player’s Company Profiles

• Namco Bandai (Japan)

• Sega Sammy Holdings (Japan)

• Taito Corporation (Japan)

• Bay Tek Entertainment Inc. (US)

• Capcom (Japan)

• Chicago Gaming Co. (US)

• CXC simulations (US)

• D-BOX technologies (Canada)

• Raw Thrills (US)

• Global VR (US)

• ICE (Innovative Concepts in Entertainment) (US)

• Andamiro (Korea)

• UNIS Technology (USA)

• Arcade1Up (US)

• Stern Pinball (US)

• BANDAI NAMCO Amusem*nt America Inc. (US)

• Adrenaline Amusem*nts (Canada)

• Dream Arcade (US)

• Injoy Motion Corp (China)

• H2Overdrive (US)

Recent Developments

• In September 2023, The four new games launched by Apple Arcade were Cypher 007, Japanese rural life adventure, Junkworld, and My Talking Angela 2+.

• In March 2022, at the AEI expo, the VR tech arcade game was displayed.

• Tamadoge Arcade announced the launch of a new play-to-earn arcade game in January 2023. The new game is called Super Doge.

• Lego, a renowned toy supplier and multinational organization, announced the launch of a new Lego kit for the Pac-Man arcade machine in May 2023. Such launches are pivotal in reviving the retro gaming scene and driving the arcade gaming marketplace.

Incorporation of the VR in the arcade games

• In the gaming industry, VR is becoming mainstream, this is because it provides an effective virtual experience. This further boosts the demand for VR-based arcade games. Some of the well-known VR-based games are the VR360 dinosaur attack car arcade game 3D shooter and Sega’s VR agent. So, in this way, VR arcade games can easily draw the attention of the players by providing them immersive gaming experience.

Social Gaming

• The introduction of dynamic gaming centers resulted in the shift towards the social gaming experience. These gaming centers provide the immersive VR experience and a competitive and interactive environment and this is something that the players seek nowadays. Therefore, the arcade gaming market is leveraging this trend.

SkyQuest’s ABIRAW (Advanced Business Intelligence, Research & Analysis Wing) is our Business Information Services team that Collects, Collates, Co-relates, and Analyses the Data collected by means of Primary Exploratory Research backed by robust Secondary Desk research.

According to our global arcade gaming market analysis, the market is witnessing significant growth driven by factors such as enhancement in physical activities and the acceleration in disposable incomes and lifestyle changes. The inclination of people towards their physical health, presence of the financial resources, and their desire to spend on leisure activities, thus surge the demand for the arcade gaming market. Further, the restraints of the market are High expenses associated with the arcade gaming setup and its maintenance and the online games as competitors. So, the high expenses will restrict the new businesses to setup their arcade game business whereas the ease and convenience that online games provide to the players can also result in the replacement of the physical arcade games.

Based on genre, the fighting sub-segment dominates the market, this is driven by the unique design of fighting games and also due to the presence of advanced visual graphics. This further, attracts the players more towards this genre of games. On the other hand, North America is the dominant region for this market, due to the already existence of advanced technologies and equipment. Asia-Pacific is considered the fastest growing, this is due to the high adoption of technologies like VR by the arcade gaming businesses operating in this region.

Moreover, some of the trends in the market are the integration of virtual reality in arcade games and social gaming. The VR incorporation helps in providing an immersive virtual experience to the players, which thus attracts them more towards the arcade games. On the other hand, people nowadays also seek for competitive and interactive experience due to which they incline more towards the gaming centres. So, these are some of the trends that can be leveraged by the arcade gaming businesses.