SE Asia's white-hot mobile games market to mirror Thai growth slowdown

Commuters look at their smartphones on a crowded train during morning rush hour in Bangkok on June 17, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Nicolas ASFOURI

BANGKOK: The world's hottest region for mobile videogames, South-East Asia, may be set to cool off amid early signs of the curse of makers of titles like Minecraft and Candy Crush Saga – the prospect of market saturation after a wave of smartphone buying. 

Games revenue in Thailand, its leading light, is set to grow 50% a year to US$485mil (RM2.04bil) in 2018, according to market research firm Newzoo, helped by new 4G mobile spectrum that boosts Internet speed. But revenue, stoked by purchases of in-game virtual accessories, surged 86% last year.