According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, slated for full release on September 10, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by 6.1 percent over the next year, pushing total revenue to roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of that spending is expected to come from two powerhouses—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in shaping global gaming trends. When the numbers are broken down by platform, consoles are predicted to contribute $46.9 billion, which would represent about 22 percent of the total market and a year‑on‑year growth of 5.1 percent.
A major catalyst for this uptick is the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Newzoo estimates that the new title will boost full‑game purchases by 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the industry at that time.
Mobile gaming remains the largest segment, accounting for an estimated 57 percent of overall revenue—approximately $121.1 billion. This sector is projected to grow 6.8 percent year over year, driven by two complementary forces: higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent joint survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C web storefronts.
Studios cite several advantages, including stronger brand visibility, deeper player loyalty, and direct access to first‑party data that can inform future product and marketing decisions. In contrast, the PC platform is expected to hold the smallest slice of the pie, with revenues projected at $45.9 billion or 21 percent of the market.
Growth on PC is still positive—5.3 percent year over year—but it is slowing compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo had forecast for 2025. The slowdown reflects a maturing market where the most explosive growth phases have already passed, yet there remains steady demand, particularly in regions such as Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) corridor, where PC adoption continues to broaden geographically. From a business‑model perspective, premium and mid‑tier titles are expected to keep delivering the bulk of full‑game revenue, while microtransactions are set to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative monetisation strategy overall. This shift suggests that while big‑budget releases will still generate substantial income, the industry’s long‑term health will increasingly rely on ongoing, transaction‑based revenue streams that keep players engaged long after the initial purchase.
Player‑base dynamics also paint an interesting picture. Newzoo projects that the total number of gamers worldwide will reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual rate of 3.2 percent after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026.
The growth trajectory indicates a gradual deceleration, implying that future expansion will hinge more on retaining and monetising existing users rather than on attracting large numbers of new players. This sentiment is echoed in Newzoo’s own commentary, which notes that the industry’s next phase will be defined by how effectively companies can keep current audiences active and willing to spend. Geographically, emerging markets continue to be the engine of growth.
The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to overall revenue, while the Middle East and Africa are experiencing the fastest expansion rates. Mobile gaming is particularly dominant in these areas, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile players in 2026—representing roughly 84 percent of the total gamer population. PC gamers are projected to number about 977 million (26 percent of the total), and console enthusiasts are expected to reach 651 million (approximately 18 percent). Penetration rates are also inching upward.
Newzoo expects the proportion of the global online population that engages in gaming to rise from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. However, the firm cautions that there is limited headroom for dramatic increases in penetration; most future growth will stem from the overall expansion of the online population, which is forecast to climb 3.5 percent to roughly 5.97 billion people.
In summary, the forthcoming Global Games Market Report paints a picture of a robust yet increasingly mature industry. While revenue continues to rise, the pace of player‑base growth is set to slow, and the emphasis will shift toward deeper engagement, diversified monetisation models, and strategic expansion into emerging regions. The anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI stands out as a headline‑making event that could temporarily accelerate full‑game spending, but long‑term success will depend on how developers and publishers adapt to a landscape where retaining existing players and leveraging direct‑to‑consumer channels become paramount.