According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of that spending will continue to be driven by two powerhouses: China and the United States. The full report, slated for release on 10 September, provides a detailed breakdown of how each platform and business model will contribute to the overall growth.
Console gaming is expected to account for about 22 percent of the market, translating to $46.9 billion in revenue and representing a 5.1 percent year‑over‑year increase. A key catalyst for this uplift is the highly anticipated November launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Newzoo predicts that the new title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming will retain its position as the dominant platform, projected to capture 57 percent of total revenue—approximately $121.1 billion. This segment is set to grow 6.8 percent from the previous year, fueled by higher average spend per player and the continued rise of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of development studios either already operate or plan to launch their own D2C web stores. Studios cite benefits such as greater brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and direct access to first‑party customer data as primary motivations. PC gaming, by contrast, is forecast to hold the smallest share of the market at 21 percent, equating to $45.9 billion in revenue. Growth on this platform is expected to slow to 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, down from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo had projected for 2025.
Despite the slower pace, the PC segment will benefit from a geographically broad expansion, with particularly strong performance anticipated in the Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions. When it comes to monetisation strategies, premium and mid‑priced releases are expected to continue sustaining revenue from full‑game purchases. However, microtransactions are projected to reclaim the title of the largest business model overall, driven by the ongoing popularity of in‑game purchases across all platforms. This shift underscores a broader industry trend: future growth will rely increasingly on retaining and monetising existing players rather than simply adding new users to the ecosystem.
Player numbers are also set to evolve. The global player base is projected to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026.
Growth will be most pronounced in emerging markets, with the Asia‑Pacific region remaining the largest contributor and the Middle East and Africa experiencing the fastest expansion rates. Mobile gamers are expected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of all players.
PC gamers will number about 977 million (26 percent of the total), while console players are projected at 651 million (18 percent). Overall player penetration is anticipated to edge up slightly 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 online population itself expanding by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people worldwide. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of a maturing industry where the biggest revenue drivers are high‑profile releases like Grand Theft Auto VI, the continued dominance of mobile platforms, and the growing importance of D2C sales models.
While console and PC segments will still contribute meaningfully, their growth rates are expected to be modest compared with the rapid expansion seen in mobile and emerging markets. Stakeholders are advised to focus on strategies that deepen engagement with existing players, leverage direct‑to‑consumer channels, and tailor offerings to the diverse regional dynamics that will shape the next few years of the global gaming market.