Virtual Worlds News: Update: $1.40 Monthly Average Revenue Per User in Successful, Free-to-Play Virtual Worlds
Update: $1.40 Monthly Average Revenue Per User in Successful, Free-to-Play Virtual Worlds
Jeremy Liew at Lightspeed Venture Partners has put together a nice collection of data for people looking at the virtual worlds and MMOG market. Reviewing the free-to-play virtual worlds Second Life , Habbo Hotel, Club Penguin, and Runescape, Liew found ARPUs ranging from about $1 to $2, averaging at $1.40/monthly user. Commenters Matt Mihaly, CEO for Iron Realms, and Nabeel Hyatt, CEO for Conduit Labs, chimed in to add that the numbers seem about right for Web-based casual MMOs, though may be significantly lower than the ARPU for downloadable, free-to-play games. For example, Hyatt estimates an ARPU of about $5/month for MapleStory. Daniel James, CEO for Three Rings, added his own figures, pointing to an ARPU of about $1.50/month for Puzzle Pirates.
The sample may be too small to take the number as the final measuring stick, but Liew says it matches up with what's he's been told in private conversations about other virtual worlds and MMOGs as well. He's asked readers to contribute any data points they may have, and I'd second that request. I'll certainly be checking back to see if any new info comes out.
