Niko Partners Boosts 2025 MENA and Asia Gaming Market Projections by 1.2%

According to Niko Partners' latest research, the Asia and MENA gaming markets are poised to generate $88.97 billion in revenue by 2025, surpassing initial forecasts. This represents a 2.7% year-over-year increase and a 1.21% rise from the previously predicted $87.9 billion. The revised forecast is attributed to the impressive momentum of PC and mobile gaming, fueled by the growth of 'evergreen IP' and cross-platform AAA experiences. Additionally, the number of paying gamers in Asia and MENA has increased, and improved regulatory conditions have created a more favorable outlook for the gaming industry in these regions. The market is also expected to benefit from the engagement of underserved demographics, such as women, and the upcoming releases of Nintendo Switch 2 and Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2026. In 2024, the Asian and MENA markets combined generated $86.6 billion in gaming revenue, with a predicted total of $99.6 billion by 2029. China dominates the Asia and MENA market, accounting for 57.5% of total revenue, followed by East Asia, which comprises 32.7%. Although India is expected to contribute only 1.2% of total gaming spending, it is forecast to experience the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.9% between 2024 and 2029. The number of gamers in the Asia and MENA markets is expected to remain steady at 1.7 billion in 2025, increasing by 17% to 2 billion by 2029, with China and India leading the way in terms of audience size and growth prospects.