According to the latest projections from market‑research firm Newzoo, the worldwide video‑game sector is slated to expand by roughly 6.1% over the next year, reaching an estimated total value of $213.9 billion in 2026. More than half of this consumer spend is expected to come from two of the world’s largest economies—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in shaping global gaming trends. The figures are drawn from Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, which will be released in full on September 10.
The report breaks down revenue by platform, business model, and regional dynamics, offering a comprehensive snapshot of where growth is occurring and where challenges remain. **Console segment** Console‑related revenue is projected to account for about 22 % of the total market, translating to roughly $46.9 billion. This represents a 5.1 % increase over the previous year, driven largely by the release of high‑profile titles and the sustained popularity of next‑generation hardware. A key catalyst highlighted by Newzoo is the November launch of Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated *Grand Theft Auto VI*.
The company predicts that the new installment will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 %, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the industry for the year. **Mobile gaming** Mobile devices continue to dominate the platform landscape, with an estimated 57 % share of total gaming revenue—about $121.1 billion.
This segment is expected to grow 6.8 % year‑on‑year, a rise fueled by higher per‑player spend and the expanding influence of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 % of game studios either already operate or plan to launch a D2C storefront. Studios cite improved brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and direct access to first‑party data as primary motivations for this shift. **PC gaming** The PC market is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the pie at 21 % of total revenue, amounting to $45.9 billion.
While still growing—at an estimated 5.3 % year‑over‑year—PC growth is expected to decelerate compared with the 12 % compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. Newzoo notes that PC growth will be “geographically broad,” with the strongest gains coming from the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) corridor. **Business‑model outlook** Premium and mid‑priced releases are anticipated to keep sustaining full‑game revenue streams, whereas microtransactions are forecast to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative business model overall.
This shift reflects a maturing market where players are willing to spend on both high‑quality standalone titles and ongoing in‑game purchases. **Player‑base dynamics** The total number of gamers worldwide is expected to rise to 4.07 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 3.2 % after a 4.4 % increase in 2026.
Newzoo emphasizes that future expansion will rely more on retaining and monetising existing players rather than simply adding new ones to the ecosystem. Growth is increasingly concentrated in emerging markets, with the Asia‑Pacific region remaining the largest contributor and the Middle East and Africa showing the fastest year‑over‑year expansion. By 2026, mobile gamers are projected to number 3.10 billion, making up roughly 84 % of the global player base. PC gamers are expected to reach 977 million (about 26 % of the total), while console enthusiasts will number around 651 million, accounting for 18 % of all players.
Overall player penetration is slated to inch up from 61.5 % to 62 % in 2026, a modest rise that reflects limited headroom for deeper market saturation. Instead, the modest increase will largely be driven by the online population growing by 3.5 % to an estimated 5.97 billion people. In summary, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of a robust yet increasingly nuanced gaming market.
While revenue continues to climb, the industry’s future growth hinges on strategic engagement with existing audiences, the expansion of D2C channels, and the sustained appeal of marquee titles such as *Grand Theft Auto VI*. Emerging regions will play a pivotal role, and developers and publishers alike must adapt to a landscape where player retention and diversified monetisation strategies are paramount.