According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by roughly 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to an estimated $213.9 billion. More than half of that spending will continue to be driven by two powerhouse markets—China and the United States—underscoring their enduring influence on the industry’s financial health.
The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and regional dynamics. Console hardware and software sales are projected to generate about $46.9 billion, representing 22 percent of the total market and marking a 5.1 percent year‑on‑year increase.
A key catalyst for this uptick is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo expects the title to lift overall full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, labeling it the strongest growth among all business models for the year.
Mobile gaming remains the dominant force, anticipated to capture the largest slice of the pie at 57 percent, or roughly $121.1 billion in revenue. This growth of 6.8 percent year‑over‑year is being fueled by two complementary trends: higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C storefronts.
Developers cite improved brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and richer access to first‑party data as primary motivations for this shift. In contrast, the PC segment is expected to hold the smallest market share, accounting for 21 percent—or $45.9 billion—of total revenue.
While still growing at a solid 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, the PC market’s growth rate is projected to decelerate from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) Newzoo had forecast for 2025. Despite the slower pace, growth is expected to be geographically diverse, with notable expansion across the Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions. When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑tier full‑price releases are anticipated to continue sustaining revenue streams. However, microtransactions are forecast to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative model, overtaking traditional full‑game sales in overall contribution.
This shift reflects the broader industry trend toward ongoing monetisation through in‑game purchases, cosmetics, and battle‑pass structures. Player population dynamics also feature prominently in Newzoo’s outlook. The total number of gamers worldwide is expected to rise to 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026. The firm notes that future growth will hinge less on attracting new users and more on retaining and monetising the existing base.
In other words, the industry’s next wave of expansion will be driven by deeper engagement and higher spend per existing player rather than sheer head‑count. Regional growth patterns reveal that emerging markets are now the primary engine of expansion. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest market in absolute terms, while the Middle East and Africa are the fastest‑growing areas, benefitting from rising internet penetration and increasing disposable income among younger demographics. Mobile gamers are projected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of the global player community.
PC gamers are expected to reach about 977 million, or 26 percent of the total, while console enthusiasts will number approximately 651 million, accounting for 18 percent. These figures illustrate the continued dominance of mobile as the entry point for most players, especially in developing economies where smartphones are more affordable than dedicated gaming hardware.
Overall player penetration is slated to inch up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo cautions 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 projected to increase by 3.5 percent to 5.97 billion people.
This modest rise in penetration underscores the importance of innovative monetisation strategies and compelling content to extract more value from each existing gamer. In summary, the 2026 gaming landscape will be characterised by steady revenue growth, a pronounced shift toward mobile and D2C channels, and a renewed focus on extracting greater lifetime value from an already sizable player pool. The launch of blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto VI will provide short‑term spikes, but the longer‑term trajectory will depend on how well publishers can engage and monetise their audiences across diverse platforms and regions.