According to Newzoo’s latest 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 consumer spend will continue to come from just two powerhouses – China and the United States – underscoring the outsized influence of these markets on the industry’s overall health.
The full report, slated for public release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and regional dynamics. Console hardware and software sales are expected to represent about 22 percent of the total market, equating to $46.9 billion in revenue and growing at a modest 5.1 percent year‑over‑year. A key driver behind this uptick is the highly anticipated launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI in November. Newzoo predicts the new title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the sector.
Mobile gaming remains the dominant force, projected to capture 57 percent of global revenue – roughly $121.1 billion – and to grow 6.8 percent from the previous year. This growth is fueled by higher average spend per player and the continued rise of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels, which give developers more control over pricing, promotions, and data collection. A recent FastSpring and Omdia survey supports this trend, revealing that 96 percent of game studios either already run a D2C storefront or plan to launch one.
Studios cite stronger brand visibility, deeper player loyalty, and richer first‑party data as primary motivations for moving away from traditional marketplace reliance. In contrast, the PC segment is forecast to hold the smallest slice of the pie at 21 percent, translating to $45.9 billion in sales.
While still growing – Newzoo estimates a 5.3 percent increase year‑over‑year – the pace is slower than the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. The slowdown reflects a maturing market and the increasing difficulty of attracting new users on a platform that already enjoys high penetration. When it comes to monetisation models, premium and mid‑tier titles are expected to continue sustaining revenue from full‑game purchases.
However, microtransactions – in‑game purchases of virtual goods, cosmetics, and consumables – are projected to reclaim their position as the largest revenue generator across all platforms. This shift suggests that while blockbuster releases like Grand Theft Auto VI will boost full‑game sales, the day‑to‑day cash flow of the industry will still be driven by the continual churn of small, repeat purchases.
Geographically, PC growth is predicted to be “geographically broad,” with the most significant gains coming from the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets. These emerging territories are seeing rapid increases in broadband penetration, smartphone adoption, and disposable income, all of which contribute to a rising base of gamers.
Overall player growth is expected to decelerate modestly. In 2026, the total number of gamers worldwide is projected to rise by 4.4 percent year‑over‑year, but the compound annual growth rate from 2026 through 2029 is forecast at just 3.2 percent.
By the end of the forecast horizon, the global player base should reach approximately 4.07 billion individuals. Newzoo notes that future expansion will rely more heavily on retaining and monetising existing players rather than on acquiring new ones, a shift that reflects the market’s approaching saturation in many mature regions. Mobile gamers alone are expected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of the total gaming population.
PC gamers are projected at 977 million (about 26 percent of the total), while console enthusiasts should number around 651 million, accounting for 18 percent. These figures illustrate the continued dominance of mobile as the primary entry point for new players, especially in emerging economies where smartphones are often the first and only connected device. Player penetration – the proportion of the total online population that engages in gaming – is slated to inch upward from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026.
Newzoo cautions that there is limited headroom for dramatic gains in penetration; instead, growth will largely stem from the overall expansion of the global online population, which is expected to rise by 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion users. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of steady, if not spectacular, growth for the global games market. Console revenue will benefit from marquee releases, mobile will remain the engine of volume and revenue, and PC will continue to serve a loyal but slower‑growing audience. The industry’s future success will hinge on developers’ ability to keep existing players engaged through compelling content, effective D2C strategies, and well‑designed microtransaction ecosystems, while also navigating the nuanced dynamics of rapidly evolving emerging markets.