Online gaming market revenue to hit $11b in '13

The total revenue of China's online gaming industry is expected to hit 68.5 billion yuan ($11 billion) in 2013, driven by rapid expansion in the mobile games and browser games sectors, a report released by Analysys International said on Friday.

The industry's revenue this year is likely to top 56 billion yuan.

Revenue generated by mobile games is set to surge in 2013 as the nation's smartphone penetration rate exceeds 50 percent, said the Beijing-based research company.

"The sector is expected to maintain a 50 percent annual growth rate over the next three years," said Xue Yongfeng, a researcher with Analysys International.

The growth rate in the browser games sector is expected to slow over the next three years but will still be able to contribute about 17 billion yuan in annual revenue by 2015, said the report, adding that its revenue was less than 8 billion this year.

gaoyuan@chinadaily.com.cn