PC Gaming Alliance's "Horizon" findings says desktop market took in $18.6 billion last year, predicts valuation to hit $25.5 billion by 2015.

The PC gaming market is growing at a healthy clip, according to a report from pro-desktop group PC Gaming Alliance. The group's "Horizon Research 2011" report claims that 2011 global PC gaming revenues came in at $18.6 billion, up 15 percent from last year's haul.

PC gaming is on the rise, according to the PCGA.

Of note, the group found that the Chinese PC gaming market is growing at a rate nearly twice that of any other region and that it accounts for 2011 revenue of $6 billion, up 27 percent.

Additionally, the PCGA's report claims "mature game markets" like Korea, Japan, US, UK, and Germany climbed 11 percent in 2011 to $8 billion

The report specifically called out Zynga and Nexon (makers of Maple Story) as important PC players. The firm's findings say Zynga pulled in $1.1 billion in 2011, nearly double its take in 2010, with Nexon also recording similar figures.

The report said significant PC gaming growth in 2011 stemmed from free-to-play games like League of Legends, but it noted that a string of high-profile big-budget games also helped. The firm specifically called out Star Wars: The Old Republic, Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Assassin's Creed: Revelations as significant contributors.

Looking ahead, the PCGA said it expects PC gaming to continue to grow. It predicts the market to balloon 37 percent to about $25.5 billion by 2015. The firm said this growth will be driven by more widespread access to broadband Internet connections, as well as the "ease" of digital distribution and payment methods.

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