According to Newzoo’s forthcoming Global Games Market Report, slated for full release on September 10, the worldwide video‑game industry is on track to expand by roughly 6.1 percent over the next year, pushing total revenue to an estimated $213.9 billion. This growth trajectory is being driven largely by two powerhouse markets—China and the United States—whose combined consumer spend will account for more than half of all global gaming dollars. When the numbers are broken down by platform, consoles are expected to generate $46.9 billion, representing about 22 percent of the total market and reflecting a 5.1 percent year‑over‑year increase.
A key catalyst behind this uplift is the highly anticipated November release of Rockstar Games’ flagship title Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo predicts that the new installment will lift full‑game purchase spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth rate of any business model within the sector. Mobile gaming continues to dominate the landscape, projected to capture the largest slice of the pie at 57 percent, or $121.1 billion in revenue.
This segment’s growth of 6.8 percent year‑on‑year is being fueled 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 stores. Studios cite improved brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and richer access to first‑party customer data as the primary motivations for this shift.
In contrast, the PC platform is expected to hold the smallest market share at roughly 21 percent, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue. Although still growing—Newzoo forecasts a 5.3 percent increase year‑over‑year—PC growth is set to decelerate from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025.
The slowdown reflects a maturing market, but Newzoo notes that growth will be geographically broad, with Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions expected to lead the charge. From a business‑model perspective, premium and mid‑priced titles are anticipated to sustain revenue from full‑game purchases, while microtransactions are poised to reclaim their position as the dominant monetisation method across all platforms. This resurgence is tied to the increasing sophistication of in‑game economies and the willingness of players to spend on cosmetics, battle passes, and other digital goods. Player‑base dynamics also paint an interesting picture.
The total number of gamers worldwide is projected to rise to 4.07 billion by 2029, but the annual growth rate of the player base will taper from a 4.4 percent increase in 2026 to a 3.2 percent CAGR over the 2026‑2029 period. Newzoo emphasizes that future expansion will rely more on retaining and monetising existing gamers rather than on attracting large numbers of new participants.
Emerging markets are currently the engine of growth. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to overall revenue, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest pace. Mobile gaming is the primary driver of this expansion, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile players in 2026—accounting for 84 percent of the total gaming population.
PC gamers are expected to number around 977 million (about 26 percent of all players), and console users are projected at 651 million, or roughly 18 percent. Penetration rates will inch upward from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026, indicating limited headroom for further expansion through deeper market penetration. Instead, the modest rise reflects the overall online population growing by about 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion individuals. In this context, the industry’s strategic focus is shifting toward leveraging data‑driven insights, enhancing player lifetime value, and delivering richer, more personalized experiences across all platforms.
In summary, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of a robust yet evolving gaming ecosystem. While revenue continues to climb, the pace of player‑base growth is expected to moderate, prompting developers and publishers to double down on retention strategies, D2C commerce, and diversified monetisation models.
The upcoming launch of Grand Theft Auto VI stands out as a marquee event that could inject a significant boost into full‑game sales, underscoring the enduring appeal of high‑quality, narrative‑driven titles in a market increasingly dominated by mobile and microtransaction‑heavy experiences.