According to Newzoo’s latest outlook, the worldwide video‑game market is set to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, achieving a total valuation of roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of this consumer spend will be concentrated in two powerhouses: China and the United States.
The figures stem from Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report, which will be released in full on September 10. Console platforms are anticipated to contribute $46.9 billion, representing 22 percent of the overall market and marking a 5.1 percent year‑on‑year rise.
A key driver of this growth is the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI in November, which Newzoo expects to lift full‑game spending by 17.5 percent. The firm describes this surge as the strongest growth among all business models currently tracked. Mobile gaming will remain the dominant segment, projected to capture 57 percent of total revenue and generate $121.1 billion. This sector is forecast to grow 6.8 percent compared with the previous year, buoyed by higher average spend per player and the continued expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent FastSpring and Omdia survey revealed that 96 percent of development studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C storefronts. Studios cite improved brand visibility, stronger customer loyalty, and richer first‑party data as primary motivations for this shift. The PC arena is expected to hold the smallest slice of the pie, accounting for 21 percent of market revenue—or $45.9 billion.
Growth on this platform is projected at 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, a slowdown from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo had forecast for 2025. Nonetheless, the firm predicts that PC growth will be geographically diverse, with the strongest gains coming from the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets. In terms of business models, premium and mid‑priced titles are likely to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams, while microtransactions are expected to reclaim their position as the largest source of income across the industry. This shift suggests a balanced ecosystem where both high‑ticket releases and ongoing in‑game purchases coexist.
Player numbers are slated to increase more modestly after 2026. While the global player base will grow 4.4 percent in 2026, Newzoo projects a compound annual growth rate of 3.2 percent through 2029, culminating in an estimated 4.07 billion gamers worldwide.
The analyst firm emphasizes that future expansion will rely increasingly on retaining and monetising existing users rather than on acquiring fresh participants. Regional dynamics underline the importance of emerging markets.
Asia‑Pacific remains the largest region by player count, and the Middle East and Africa are experiencing the quickest expansion rates. Mobile gamers are projected to total 3.10 billion in 2026, making up 84 percent of all players.
PC gamers are expected to reach 977 million (about 26 percent of the total), while console enthusiasts will number roughly 651 million, or 18 percent. Overall player penetration is predicted to edge up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo notes that the scope for expanding the base through deeper market penetration is limited; instead, growth will largely stem from the global online population itself expanding by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people.
In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of steady, multi‑segment growth driven by flagship releases like Grand Theft Auto VI, the maturation of D2C storefronts, and the continued dominance of mobile gaming. While the pace of new player acquisition slows, the industry’s focus will shift toward maximising value from its existing audience, leveraging data‑rich direct channels, and capitalising on regional opportunities in fast‑growing markets across Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the MEA region.