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, reaching a total value of roughly $213.9 billion. The report, which will be released in full on September 10, highlights that more than half of all consumer spending will continue to come from just two markets: China and the United States. These two powerhouses together will dominate the revenue landscape, underscoring their pivotal role in the sector’s overall health.
Console gaming is expected to account for about 22 percent of the total market, translating to $46.9 billion in sales. This segment is projected to grow 5.1 percent year‑over‑year, driven in large part by the highly anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Newzoo predicts that the new title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the industry. The surge is likely to be fueled by both existing fans eager for the next installment and new players attracted by the franchise’s reputation for immersive open‑world experiences.
Mobile gaming will retain its position as the largest platform by revenue share, capturing roughly 57 percent of the market and generating $121.1 billion. This segment’s growth of 6.8 percent YoY reflects higher average spend per player and the continued rise of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. Mobile developers are increasingly bypassing traditional app stores, instead selling games directly through branded web stores.
A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of studios either already operate or plan to launch a D2C storefront. The motivations cited include stronger brand visibility, deeper customer loyalty, and direct access to first‑party data that can inform future product decisions. The PC platform is projected to hold the smallest slice of the overall market, at about 21 percent or $45.9 billion.
Although still sizable, PC growth 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 forecast for 2025. The slowdown is attributed to market saturation in mature regions and a shift in consumer preference toward mobile and console experiences. Nevertheless, PC growth is expected to be geographically diverse, with notable expansion in the Asia‑Pacific, Latin American, and Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions. When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑priced releases are likely to continue sustaining revenue from full‑game purchases.
At the same time, microtransactions are projected to reclaim their status as the dominant monetisation method across all platforms. This resurgence will be driven by the increasing sophistication of in‑game economies, the popularity of battle‑pass systems, and the ongoing trend of offering cosmetic items that do not impact gameplay balance.
Player numbers are set to keep rising, albeit at a slower pace. Newzoo estimates that the global player base will grow from a 4.4 percent year‑over‑year increase in 2026 to a 3.2 percent CAGR through 2029, culminating in an estimated 4.07 billion gamers worldwide by the end of the decade.
The majority of these players—about 84 percent or 3.10 billion—will be on mobile devices, reflecting the platform’s accessibility and the proliferation of affordable smartphones in emerging markets. PC gamers are expected to number around 977 million (approximately 26 percent of the total), while console enthusiasts will total roughly 651 million, representing 18 percent of the global audience. Newzoo cautions that future growth will rely increasingly on retaining and monetising existing users rather than simply adding new ones. As the market matures, the pool of untapped consumers shrinks, making it essential for publishers to deepen engagement with their current communities.
Strategies such as regular content updates, live‑service models, and personalised marketing will become ever more critical. Geographically, growth is concentrating in emerging economies.
The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to market expansion, driven by strong mobile adoption in countries like India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Meanwhile, the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest rate, thanks to improving internet infrastructure and rising disposable incomes. Player penetration—defined as the proportion of the global online population that plays games—is projected to edge up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. This modest increase signals that there is limited room for growth through deeper market penetration alone; instead, the overall online population is expected to grow by about 3.5 percent, reaching roughly 5.97 billion people.
Consequently, the gaming industry’s expansion will be more about extracting greater value from a slightly larger audience rather than dramatically increasing the number of gamers. In summary, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of a robust yet evolving industry.
While mobile continues to dominate in terms of revenue and player count, consoles and PC platforms will still play vital roles, especially as flagship titles like Grand Theft Auto VI drive spikes in full‑game spending. The shift toward D2C sales channels, the resurgence of microtransactions, and the focus on audience retention are all indicators of a market that is adapting to new consumer behaviours and technological advancements.
As emerging regions contribute an ever‑greater share of growth, publishers that can tailor their offerings to diverse cultural and economic contexts will be best positioned to thrive in the years ahead.