According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, reaching an estimated total revenue of $213.9 billion. More than half of this consumer spend will continue to be driven by two powerhouses: China and the United States, underscoring their enduring influence on the industry’s financial health.
The full report, scheduled for release on September 10, breaks down the market by platform and business model, offering a detailed view of where growth is expected to originate. Console gaming, for instance, is projected to generate $46.9 billion—about 22 percent of the total market—and to grow at a 5.1 percent annual rate.
A key catalyst for this uplift is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo predicts that the new title will boost full‑game spending by roughly 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming remains the dominant platform, accounting for an estimated 57 percent of global revenues and expected to hit $121.1 billion. This segment’s year‑over‑year increase of 6.8 percent is being powered by higher per‑player spend and the expanding influence of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent FastSpring and Omdia survey highlighted that 96 percent of development studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C web stores. Studios cite improved brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and richer first‑party data as primary motivations for this shift. In contrast, the PC platform is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the market at 21 percent, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue.
Growth on PCs is expected to slow to 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, a noticeable dip from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo had projected for 2025. Despite the slower pace, PC growth is expected to be geographically diverse, with notable gains in the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets. When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑priced titles are projected to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams.
Meanwhile, microtransactions are poised to reclaim their position as the largest revenue generator across platforms, reflecting the ongoing popularity of in‑game purchases and seasonal content. The report also points out that player growth will decelerate: the increase in the global player base is expected to fall from a 4.4 percent year‑over‑year rise in 2026 to a 3.2 percent CAGR through 2029. By the end of that period, Newzoo estimates the total number of gamers worldwide will reach approximately 4.07 billion.
Newzoo emphasizes that future expansion will rely more heavily on retaining and monetising existing players rather than on attracting new ones. This shift is driven by the fact that market penetration is already high, with player reach projected to climb only modestly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026.
The firm notes that there is limited headroom for deeper penetration; instead, growth will stem from the overall online population expanding by about 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people. Emerging markets continue to be the engine of growth, with the Asia‑Pacific region maintaining its status as the largest contributor to revenue and player numbers. The Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest pace, highlighting the increasing accessibility of broadband and mobile connectivity in those areas. In terms of player distribution, mobile gamers are expected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of the total gaming audience.
PC gamers will reach about 977 million players (26 percent of the total), while console enthusiasts are projected to number 651 million, accounting for 18 percent of the global base. Overall, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of a maturing industry that is shifting its growth strategy from sheer acquisition of new users to deeper engagement and monetisation of the existing player pool.
The continued dominance of mobile, the resurgence of microtransaction‑driven revenue, and the blockbuster impact of titles like Grand Theft Auto VI are all set to shape the financial trajectory of the gaming world over the next several years.