Monitors Driving Growth in Gaming Devices, Says Report; Desktops 'Finally' Recover in Q2

Easing processor shortages and improved graphics processor inventories led to 17 percent year-on-year growth for gaming desktops, notebooks and monitors in Q2, said a Monday IDC report. Fear of tariffs on Chinese imports also helped boost overall device shipments in the U.S., it said. Gaming notebooks grew 13 percent, boosted by models that may support ray tracing across a wide range of price points, said the report. Gaming desktops “finally recovered” after several “tough” quarters, with 3.3 percent year-on-year growth in shipments; monitor shipments remained “strong,” rising 3.3 percent, it said. IDC increased its short-term outlook for the category based on strong monitor demand, but it lowered the long-term forecast for desktop and notebooks. IDC forecasts “steady, if modest” gaming device adoption through 2023.