According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by roughly 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to an estimated $213.9 billion. More than half of this consumer expenditure is expected to come from two powerhouses—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in shaping global gaming trends.
The report, which will be released in full on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform and business model, offering a detailed picture of where growth is likely to originate. Console sales, for instance, are projected to represent 22 percent of the overall market, translating to about $46.9 billion in revenue. This segment is slated to grow at a 5.1‑percent annual rate, driven in large part by the high‑profile November release of Rockstar Games’ much‑anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo predicts that the new title will boost full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the sector.
Mobile gaming remains the dominant force, accounting for a projected 57 percent share of total revenues—roughly $121.1 billion. This platform’s growth rate of 6.8 percent year‑over‑year reflects both higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent joint survey by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already run a D2C storefront or plan to launch one in the near future.
Studios cite stronger brand visibility, deeper customer loyalty, and richer first‑party data as key motivations for moving away from traditional third‑party marketplaces. In contrast, the PC segment is expected to hold the smallest slice of the market at 21 percent, equating to $45.9 billion in sales. While still growing—at an estimated 5.3 percent year‑over‑year—the PC market’s pace is slowing relative to its historic compound annual growth rate of 12 percent that Newzoo had projected for 2025.
The slowdown is partly attributed to the maturing nature of the platform and intensified competition from mobile and console titles. When it comes to revenue models, premium and mid‑priced games are forecast to continue sustaining full‑game income streams, whereas microtransactions are expected to reclaim the top spot as the largest source of revenue across all platforms. The resurgence of micro‑transactions is linked to the increasing sophistication of in‑game economies and the willingness of players to spend on cosmetic and functional upgrades. Geographically, PC growth is projected to be broadly distributed, with notable gains in the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) corridor.
These emerging markets are becoming pivotal for the industry, as they collectively contribute to the bulk of new player acquisition. In fact, player growth is predicted to decelerate from a 4.4 percent year‑over‑year increase in 2026 to a 3.2 percent compound annual growth rate through 2029. By the end of that period, the global player base is expected to reach approximately 4.07 billion individuals. Newzoo emphasizes that future expansion will rely increasingly on retaining and monetising existing gamers rather than simply adding new users to the ecosystem.
This shift reflects the limited upside in expanding penetration rates—player penetration is forecast to edge up marginally from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. The modest rise indicates that the industry is approaching a saturation point in many mature markets, and growth will instead be driven by the online population’s overall expansion, which is projected to increase by 3.5 percent to roughly 5.97 billion people. Mobile gamers are expected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing a staggering 84 percent of the total gaming audience.
PC gamers will number about 977 million (26 percent of the total), while console enthusiasts are projected to reach 651 million players, or 18 percent of the global base. These figures highlight the sheer scale of mobile as the primary gateway to gaming, especially in emerging economies where smartphones are more accessible than dedicated gaming hardware. Overall, the report paints a picture of a market that is maturing but still vibrant, with growth increasingly concentrated in regions that are still climbing the digital adoption curve.
The anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI serves as a catalyst for a notable surge in full‑game spending, while the continued rise of D2C storefronts signals a strategic pivot by developers toward greater control over distribution and customer relationships. As the industry moves forward, success will likely hinge on a developer’s ability to nurture existing communities, optimise monetisation strategies, and tap into the expanding player bases of fast‑growing markets across Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa.