Gaming accessories market rebounds as wireless and spatial audio take centre stage

Gaming accessories market rebounds as wireless and spatial audio take centre stage

Futuresource Consulting's latest report highlights a 2024 market resurgence, driven by next-gen gaming tech and evolving consumer demands.

Futuresource Consulting has unveiled its latest global research into gaming headsets and accessories, revealing market recovery. According to the specialist research firm, following a period of decline, the industry is back on a growth trajectory.

A market back in motion
“The gaming headsets and accessories market is experiencing a revival,” says Rasika D'Souza, Principal Analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “Once the final numbers are in, we expect sales to have increased by 4.3% year-on-year in 2024, totalling 158 million units."

“This is being fuelled by renewed consumer confidence, increased adoption of Sony’s PlayStation 5, and a thriving PC gaming ecosystem. All the momentum is creating a prime opportunity for brands to innovate and capture market share in an increasingly competitive landscape."

According to Futuresource, a key area of note is, the global gaming headsets market. After experiencing two years of decline, it has bounced back in 2024 with 4.8% year-on-year growth, shipping nearly 41 million units at a retail value of $2.6 billion.

The key gaming headset trends defining tomorrow
The Futuresource report identifies several trends driving market growth and reshaping the gaming headsets and accessories space.

Wireless headsets are now dominating the market, projected to account for over 50% of total sales in 2024, up from 42% in 2023. The shift is fuelled by the rise of wireless headbands and true wireless stereo (TWS) products, enhancing convenience and mobility.

Bluetooth Low-Energy (BTLE) will begin to gain traction as well, with the technology embedded in 15% of gaming headsets in 2024 and expected to achieve 58% by 2028. BTLE’s ability to reduce latency is highly relevant to gamers, yet manufacturers appear hesitant to commit fully at the moment. This could be due to a combination of potential transitional issues, the associated costs, and a current lack of consumer demand.

Spatial audio is growing in importance, with the demand for 360-degree positional audio rising fast. Futuresource expects spatial audio penetration to have hit 23% at the end of 2024. This immersive technology is quickly becoming a must-have for serious gamers seeking heightened situational awareness.

“We’re also seeing plenty of mid-range momentum for headsets,” says D'Souza. “The $50 to $150 segment is thriving, where brands like Razer, Logitech and HyperX are leading the charge. This sweet spot offers feature-packed gaming accessories at accessible prices, meeting growing consumer expectations for premium features without the premium price tags."

“In contrast, the super-premium segments above $150 will continue to experience a decline in volume share. That’s due to a lack of unique innovations in this price segment, with brands generally opting to showcase their build or sound quality to justify the additional cost.”

Other gaming categories are slow but steady

Gaming speakers recorded year-on-year volume growth of 2% in 2024, and will continue to be a relatively niche category, with headsets presenting a tough barrier to overcome. Futuresource notes that recent innovations in the speaker space have been minimal, with no major launches from brands in 2024.

Gaming keyboards experienced a year-on-year uptick in volume and value of 3% and 5% respectively in 2024. The keyboard space continues to evolve, with advancements in mechanical switch technology and ergonomic designs. In addition, the rise of esports and competitive gaming has fuelled the demand for high-performance keyboards that offer faster response times and programmable keys.

The gaming mice market remains stable, achieving 2% shipment growth in 2024. While this is a mature market, limited by opportunities for originality, there is some innovation taking place. Joysticks integrated into the sides of mice provide additional control, while a new click registration system saves 1.23ms in click latency, enhancing reaction times during gameplay.

About Futuresource Consulting
Futuresource Consulting, established in the 1980s, is a leading research and consulting firm specialising in global market analysis, forecasts and strategic insights. With a deep understanding of emerging trends and technologies, Futuresource helps businesses navigate complex markets and make informed decisions.

To learn more about the new report, Gaming Headsets & Accessories: Global Market Outlook H2 2024, or to make a purchase, please contact Benedict Greenwood on benedict.greenwood@futuresource-hq.com or visit here

Press Contact: Nicola Finn, Marketing Manager, Futuresource Consulting, nicola.finn@futuresource-hq.com