According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, slated for full release on September 10, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by roughly 6.1 percent, pushing total revenues to an estimated $213.9 billion by the end of 2026. More than half of this spending is expected to originate from just two markets—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these economies in the digital entertainment landscape. The report breaks down the forecast by platform, beginning with consoles.
Console‑related sales are projected to account for about 22 percent of the total market, translating into roughly $46.9 billion in revenue. This represents a 5.1 percent year‑over‑year increase and reflects the sustained appeal of high‑end hardware and marquee titles. A key driver of this uplift is the much‑anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Newzoo estimates that the new installment will lift full‑game spending across all platforms by an impressive 17.5 percent, making it the strongest growth catalyst among all business models in the industry.
Mobile gaming remains the largest segment by far. Newzoo projects mobile platforms to capture 57 percent of global gaming revenue, amounting to $121.1 billion. The mobile share is expected to rise 6.8 percent year‑over‑year, fueled by higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
Recent research from FastSpring and Omdia indicates that 96 percent of game studios either already operate or intend to launch their own D2C web stores. Studios cite greater brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and direct access to first‑party data as primary motivations for this shift.
In contrast, the PC segment is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the market at 21 percent, equating to $45.9 billion in sales. While still growing—Newzoo predicts a 5.3 percent increase year‑over‑year—PC growth is expected to decelerate compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. The report suggests that PC expansion will be geographically broad, led by emerging regions such as Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.
When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑priced game releases are anticipated to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams. However, microtransactions are projected to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative model, driven by the ongoing popularity of in‑game purchases and live‑service titles. This shift highlights the industry’s pivot toward ongoing monetisation rather than one‑off sales. Player‑base dynamics also feature prominently in Newzoo’s outlook.
The total number of gamers worldwide is expected to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR after a 4.4 percent year‑over‑year increase in 2026. Growth will increasingly rely on retaining and monetising existing users rather than attracting large numbers of new players.
This trend is especially evident in mature markets where penetration rates are already high. Regional analysis shows that growth is concentrated in emerging economies.
The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest market, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest pace. Mobile gaming will dominate player counts, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026—about 84 percent of the total gaming population. PC gamers are projected to number 977 million (approximately 26 percent), and console gamers about 651 million (roughly 18 percent). Overall player penetration is expected to edge up slightly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026.
Newzoo notes that the room for expanding the base through deeper market penetration is limited; instead, growth will largely stem from the online population itself expanding by about 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of a maturing industry where incremental revenue gains are driven by flagship releases, D2C strategies, and the continued monetisation of existing audiences across a diversifying set of platforms and regions.