According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is slated to expand by roughly 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to an estimated $213.9 billion. More than half of this spending is expected to come from two powerhouses: China and the United States, underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in shaping global gaming trends. The full report, scheduled for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and regional dynamics.
Console sales are predicted to represent about 22 percent of the total market, translating to $46.9 billion in revenue—a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year. A key driver behind this uplift is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ next‑generation title, Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo estimates that the new installment will lift full‑game spending by 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the industry. Mobile gaming remains the largest segment, expected to capture 57 percent of overall revenue and generate $121.1 billion.
This growth of 6.8 percent year‑on‑year is fueled by 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 web stores. Studios cite benefits such as greater brand visibility, stronger customer loyalty, and richer first‑party data that can be leveraged for targeted marketing and product improvements. The PC platform is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the market at 21 percent, equating to $45.9 billion in revenue.
While still growing—at an estimated 5.3 percent year‑over‑year—its pace is expected to slow compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. Newzoo attributes this deceleration to market saturation in mature regions and a shift in consumer spending toward mobile and console experiences.
In terms of business models, premium and mid‑priced titles are anticipated to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams. Meanwhile, microtransactions are set to reclaim their position as the largest source of income across platforms, driven by the ongoing popularity of live‑service games and in‑game cosmetic purchases. The PC segment, despite its smaller share, is expected to experience geographically diverse growth, led by emerging markets in the Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions.
Player numbers are projected to increase, but at a slower rate than in previous years. The global player base is expected to rise by 4.4 percent in 2026, then settle into a 3.2 percent CAGR through 2029, reaching roughly 4.07 billion individuals. Newzoo cautions that future expansion will rely more on retaining and monetising existing gamers rather than attracting large numbers of new players. This shift reflects the limited upside in expanding penetration rates; player penetration is forecast to edge up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026, indicating that most of the growth will stem from the overall online population expanding by about 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people.
Regional analysis shows that growth is increasingly concentrated in emerging markets. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the biggest contributor, while the Middle East and Africa are the fastest‑growing areas in terms of both revenue and player adoption. Mobile gaming dominates the player count, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026—representing roughly 84 percent of the total gaming audience. PC gamers are projected to number about 977 million (26 percent of the market), and console players are expected to reach 651 million (18 percent).
The data suggests that developers and publishers will need to adapt their strategies to this evolving landscape. Emphasis on D2C storefronts, diversified monetisation approaches, and region‑specific content will become more critical as the industry seeks to maximise revenue from an increasingly mature player base.
Moreover, the anticipated surge in full‑game spending tied to blockbuster releases like Grand Theft Auto VI highlights the continued relevance of premium titles, even as microtransactions and live‑service models dominate the broader market. In summary, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of steady, moderate growth for the global games market through 2026, driven by strong performance in mobile, a resurgence of full‑game sales linked to marquee releases, and expanding opportunities in emerging regions.
Stakeholders are advised to focus on audience retention, data‑driven engagement, and flexible distribution models to capture the most value from this evolving ecosystem.