Market Trends of PC Accessories Industry
The Headsets Segment is Expected to Drive the Market's Growth
- The demand for headsets is continuously rising due to a confluence of factors encompassing professional and personal use cases. The rise in remote work culture has significantly increased the need for clear communication and collaboration tools. Headsets with microphones allow for hands-free communication during video calls and online meetings, improving productivity and reducing background noise.
- The global gaming industry is experiencing exponential growth. For instance, according to the China Internet Network Information Center, the number of online gamers in China has seen a significant rise. As of June 2023, approximately 550 million people in China had played online games, representing a penetration rate of 51%. Since gamers increasingly rely on headsets for immersive audio experiences, clear communication with teammates in online games, and noise cancellation to avoid distractions, its adoption is significantly growing with advancements in audio technology like surround sound, further enhancing the demand for high-quality gaming headsets.
- In addition, according to the Federal of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), online gaming in India is expected to grow significantly across verticals (esports and casual gaming), and the number of gamers is expected to reach 500 million by 2025.
- The growth of online learning platforms necessitates using headsets so that students can participate in interactive sessions and lectures. Thus, experiencing clear audio reception and participating in learning are driving the demand for headsets due to the growing online learning population.
- Moreover, the rise of content creators like YouTubers, streamers, and podcasters has increased the demand for headsets with good microphones for recording high-quality audio. In response, several vendors are introducing headsets specifically for YouTubers and streamers. For instance, Sony Corporation is developing a spatial content creation system with XR headsets and controllers and plans to launch it in 2024.
Asia-Pacific is Expected to Hold a Significant Share in the Market
- The rising favor of virtual gaming has led to the evolution of PC gaming accessories. The growing popularity of e-sports and the increasing number of gamers worldwide are anticipated to drive demand in Asia-Pacific. For instance, in June 2023, the Indian gaming-focused venture capital fund Lumikai launched a USD 50 million fund, which included investments from South Korea's Krafton and Japan's Colopl. Other investors in the fund include former Take-Two Interactive (TTWO.O) boss Ben Feder, music streaming service Napster's CEO Jon Vlassopulos, Finnish mobile game developer Supercell, and Japan's Mixi (2121.T).
- In addition, in May 2024, Asus launched its latest addition to the accessories, the SmartO MD200 mouse with 4200 dpi and programmable buttons. The mouse comes with both 2.4 GHz RF and Bluetooth connectivity, and it supports seamless wireless connections with up to three Bluetooth devices.
- China has a significant market share in global PC accessories during the forecast period due to its strong presence of central computer and equipment accessory manufacturers. As the IT sector grows and technology evolves constantly, there is expected to be an increasing demand for PC accessories in this country.
- Across the world, there's a growing interest in online gaming. Technologically superior accessories like a mouse, mechanical keyboard, or headphones are needed to improve the performance of a user's gaming experience. The need for PC accessories is expected to increase as a result. A set of customized PC accessories is manufactured by major players in the field of Internet gaming in this country. In the case of China, that aspect is expected to have a positive impact on expanding the PC accessories market.
- As a result of the increasing number of players and technological developments in recent years, gaming consoles are becoming popular in Japan. Further, in February 2023, Vi entered into e-sports in partnership with Gamerji. Through the partnership with e-sports start-up Gamerji, Vi, under the umbrella of Vi Games, launched an e-sports platform on the Vi App. Such developments may further drive the market's growth.