Demand for subscription massive multiplayer online games (MMOG) will top $2bn (£1.3bn) by 2013, according to a new report.

The study, by analysts Screen Digest, said the market had been driven by attempts to emulate World of Warcraft.

The findings suggest that the MMOG’s market in Europe and North America grew by 22% and was worth $1.4bn (£0.9bn). There are at least 220 active MMOGs, although many of these are exclusive to South East Asia.

Speaking to the BBC, Piers Harding-Rolls – senior analyst with Screen Digest – said that despite the recession, subscription MMOG’s were still showing significant growth.

Source: BBC Technology