According to Newzoo’s latest Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game industry is on track to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of this spending is expected to come from two powerhouses – China and the United States – underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in driving global growth. The full report, scheduled for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and region, offering a detailed picture of where the industry is headed.
Console sales are predicted to represent 22 percent of the total market, translating into $46.9 billion in revenue and a year‑over‑year increase of 5.1 percent. A key catalyst for this uplift is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo estimates that the new title will boost full‑game spending by 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models for the year.
Mobile gaming remains the largest segment, accounting for 57 percent of global revenue and reaching $121.1 billion. This sector is set to grow 6.8 percent YoY, propelled by higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already run a D2C storefront or plan to launch one. The motivations cited include stronger brand visibility, deeper player loyalty, and richer access to first‑party customer data, all of which can be leveraged to improve monetisation strategies.
In contrast, the PC platform is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the market at 21 percent, generating $45.9 billion. Growth on PC is expected to slow to 5.3 percent YoY, a noticeable dip from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo projected for 2025. Despite the slower pace, PC growth is expected to be geographically diverse, with strong performance in the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA).
When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑priced titles are anticipated to keep sustaining full‑game revenue streams, while microtransactions are poised to reclaim their position as the largest revenue generator across all platforms. This shift reflects a broader industry trend where players are willing to spend on both high‑quality, one‑time purchases and ongoing in‑game purchases that enhance the gameplay experience. Player base dynamics also feature prominently in Newzoo’s outlook.
The total number of gamers worldwide is expected to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR from 2026 onward. This represents a slowdown from the 4.4 percent YoY growth projected for 2026, indicating that future expansion will rely more on retaining and monetising existing users rather than attracting large numbers of new players. Newzoo notes that the market’s growth potential is becoming increasingly tied to deepening engagement with the current audience. Regional growth patterns highlight the importance of emerging markets.
Asia‑Pacific continues to be the largest region by player count, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest rate. Mobile gaming, in particular, is expected to dominate player numbers, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026 – roughly 84 percent of the total gaming population.
PC gamers are projected to number 977 million (about 26 percent), and console players are anticipated to reach 651 million, representing 18 percent of all gamers. Penetration rates – the proportion of the online population that plays games – are forecast to edge up slightly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo cautions that there is limited room for growth through deeper market penetration; instead, overall market expansion will be driven by the global online population growing by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion users.
In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of a mature yet still expanding gaming ecosystem. While console and PC segments experience modest growth, mobile continues to dominate both revenue and player counts. The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI is set to be a major boost for full‑game sales, and the widespread adoption of D2C storefronts signals a strategic shift toward greater control over distribution and player data. As the industry moves forward, success will hinge on the ability of developers and publishers to nurture existing communities, innovate monetisation approaches, and tap into the burgeoning opportunities presented by emerging regions.