According to Newzoo’s latest Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, reaching an estimated total value of $213.9 billion. More than half of that consumer spend is expected to come from two powerhouse markets—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these regions in the industry’s financial landscape.
The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform and business model, revealing several notable trends that could shape the next few years of gaming. Console revenue, for instance, is projected to represent roughly 22 percent of the total market, equating to $46.9 billion and reflecting a 5.1 percent year‑over‑year increase. A key driver behind this uptick is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI.
Newzoo predicts that the new title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, a boost that the firm describes as the strongest growth among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming remains the dominant platform, expected to capture 57 percent of overall revenue and generate $121.1 billion in 2026.
This 6.8 percent annual rise is fueled by two complementary forces: higher average spend per player and the expanding influence of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia found that 96 percent of game studios either already operate or plan to launch a D2C web store. Developers cite benefits such as greater brand visibility, stronger customer loyalty, and richer access to first‑party data as primary motivations for moving away from traditional marketplace models. In contrast, the PC segment is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the market, accounting for 21 percent—or $45.9 billion—of total revenue.
Growth on the PC is still positive, at 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, but it marks a slowdown from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) Newzoo had projected for 2025. The firm expects PC growth to be geographically diverse, with notable expansion in the Asia‑Pacific region, as well as in Latin America and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets.
When it comes to monetisation strategies, premium and mid‑priced titles are expected to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams, while microtransactions are projected to reclaim their status as the largest business model overall. This shift suggests that developers will increasingly rely on in‑game purchases to drive earnings, even as high‑budget releases maintain a solid revenue base. Player numbers are also a focal point of the outlook.
Newzoo estimates that the global player base will grow more slowly after 2026, decelerating from a 4.4 percent year‑over‑year increase to a 3.2 percent CAGR through 2029. By the end of that period, the total number of gamers worldwide is projected to reach 4.07 billion. The firm emphasizes that future market expansion will depend less on attracting new users and more on retaining and monetising the existing audience. Regional dynamics further highlight where growth is concentrated.
Emerging markets, particularly in the Asia‑Pacific, remain the largest source of new players, while the Middle East and Africa are the fastest‑growing regions in terms of penetration. Mobile gaming is expected to dominate the player landscape, with 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026—representing roughly 84 percent of all players. PC gamers are projected to number 977 million (about 26 percent), and console players are estimated at 651 million (approximately 18 percent).
Overall player penetration is slated to rise modestly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo notes that there is limited room for expanding the base through deeper market saturation; instead, growth will largely reflect the expansion of the global online population, which is expected to increase by 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people. In summary, the forthcoming data points to a gaming ecosystem that is maturing: revenue growth is steady but not explosive, platform shares are shifting toward mobile and D2C channels, and the industry’s success will hinge on how well companies can keep existing players engaged and willing to spend.
The anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI serves as a bellwether for the power of flagship titles to stimulate full‑game spending, while the continued rise of microtransactions underscores the importance of flexible monetisation models in a market that is increasingly focused on player retention rather than pure acquisition.