According to the latest outlook from market‑research firm Newzoo, the worldwide video‑game industry is slated to expand by roughly 6.1 % over the next year, bringing total revenues to an estimated $213.9 billion in 2026. More than half of that spending is expected to come from two powerhouses – China and the United States – underscoring the continued dominance of these two markets in shaping global gaming trends.
The figures come from Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report, which will be released in full on September 10. The report breaks down the forecast by platform, business model and regional dynamics, offering a granular view of where growth is expected to originate and which segments may face headwinds. **Console segment** Newzoo projects console‑related revenue to represent about 22 % of the total market, amounting to $46.9 billion, a rise of 5.1 % compared with the previous year.
A key driver of this uptick is the highly anticipated release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI in November 2026. The launch is forecast to boost spending on full‑price games by 17.5 %, which Newzoo labels the strongest growth among all business models for the year. Analysts expect the title’s massive fan base, combined with the franchise’s reputation for high‑quality, open‑world experiences, to generate a surge in both initial purchases and subsequent downloadable content. **Mobile gaming** Mobile remains the largest slice of the pie, projected to capture 57 % of global gaming revenue and generate $121.1 billion in 2026.
This represents a 6.8 % year‑on‑year increase, driven primarily by higher average spend per player and the continued rise of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. Mobile developers are increasingly bypassing traditional app‑store fees by selling games directly through their own storefronts, a trend reinforced by a recent FastSpring and Omdia survey that found 96 % of studios either already run or plan to launch a D2C web shop. The benefits cited include stronger brand visibility, deeper customer loyalty, and direct access to first‑party data that can inform future monetisation strategies. **PC gaming** The personal‑computer segment is expected to hold the smallest share of the market at 21 %, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue.
Growth for PC is forecast at 5.3 % year‑over‑year, a slowdown from the 12 % compound annual growth rate (CAGR) Newzoo had projected for 2025. Despite the slower pace, PC growth is anticipated to be geographically diverse, with significant contributions from the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets.
Premium and mid‑tier titles are expected to keep full‑game revenue stable, while microtransactions are predicted to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative business model across all platforms. **Player base dynamics** Overall player numbers are set to rise, but the rate of increase will decelerate.
In 2026 the global player base is projected to grow 4.4 % year‑over‑year, reaching roughly 4.07 billion individuals. From 2026 through 2029 the CAGR is expected to settle at 3.2 %, reflecting a maturing market where adding new users becomes more challenging.
Newzoo notes that future growth will rely increasingly on retaining existing gamers and extracting more value from them, rather than expanding the total audience size. **Regional outlook** Emerging markets continue to be the engine of expansion. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to overall revenue, while the Middle East and Africa are the fastest‑growing areas in terms of player adoption. Mobile gaming will dominate player counts, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026 – about 84 % of the total gaming population.
PC gamers are projected to number 977 million (approximately 26 % of all players), and console gamers about 651 million (roughly 18 %). **Penetration and market saturation** Player penetration – the proportion of the global online population that engages in gaming – is expected to inch up from 61.5 % to 62 % in 2026. Newzoo cautions that there is limited room for dramatic increases in penetration; most growth will stem from the overall expansion of the online population, which is forecast to rise 3.5 % to 5.97 billion people.
This suggests that the industry’s future will be shaped more by deeper monetisation of existing users than by dramatic influxes of new players. **Implications for developers and publishers** The data points to several strategic takeaways.
First, the continued strength of full‑price, premium titles – exemplified by the GTA VI launch – indicates that flagship releases can still drive sizable revenue spikes, especially when paired with robust post‑launch support. Second, the shift toward D2C storefronts on mobile highlights the importance of owning the customer relationship and leveraging first‑party data for personalised offers and cross‑sell opportunities. Third, the modest growth outlook for PC suggests that developers may need to focus on niche audiences, high‑quality experiences and innovative monetisation models to sustain profitability. In summary, Newzoo’s 2026 forecast paints a picture of a gaming industry that is still expanding, but at a more measured pace.
Mobile remains the dominant force, console revenues receive a boost from a marquee title, and PC’s share contracts slightly. Growth will increasingly hinge on how well companies can keep existing players engaged and willing to spend, making player retention, data‑driven marketing and diversified revenue streams critical pillars for success in the years ahead.