Report: Games industry to $65 billion by 2013

According to IndustryGamers, a report from market intelligence firm Strategy Analystics predicts that the video game industry is primed for some serious growth in the coming years. Specifically, the report states that the worldwide game industry will likely reach revenues of $64.9 billion by 2013. As the industry just recently reached a value of 46.5 billion in 2009, that's an increase of $18.4 billion, or 39.5% over the next three years.

The report notes that sales of packaged software will increase, but increased sales of digital goods, in-game ads and subscriptions will play the primary role in growth. Specifically, online games are expected to grow to $24.8 billion by 2013, accounting for 38 percent of the overall games market. The firm expects social games to take up a major portion of growth, specifically the sale of virtual goods for use in online games (think Farmville).

Now, if you'll excuse us, Joystiq Publishing really needs to get to work on Social Networking Town, the social networking game in which you buy virtual people to fill your virtual in-game social networking friends list. Once that's done, you can play virtual social networking games, in which additional virtual goods are available. The only way to win is to never stop playing!