According to the latest outlook from market‑research firm Newzoo, the worldwide video‑game industry is slated to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of that 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 figures stem from Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, which will be released in full on 10 September. The report breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and geographic region, providing a detailed picture of where growth is expected to originate and which segments may face headwinds.
**Console segment** Console‑related revenue is projected to represent 22 percent of the total market, amounting to about $46.9 billion. This marks a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year and reflects a steady, if not spectacular, rise in console hardware sales, premium titles, and associated services.
A key catalyst for this uplift is the highly anticipated release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI in November 2026. Newzoo predicts the title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, labeling it the strongest growth driver among all business models for the year. **Mobile dominance** Mobile gaming remains the largest slice of the pie, forecast to capture 57 percent of global revenues and generate $121.1 billion.
The sector’s year‑on‑year growth rate of 6.8 percent is driven by two complementary forces: higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. Mobile developers are increasingly bypassing traditional app‑store ecosystems, instead selling games and in‑app purchases through their own storefronts. A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of studios either already run a D2C web store or plan to launch one, citing benefits such as stronger brand visibility, deeper player loyalty, and richer access to first‑party data.
**PC outlook** The personal‑computer segment is expected to hold the smallest market share at 21 percent, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue. While still growing—Newzoo forecasts a 5.3 percent increase year over year—PC growth is slowing relative to its historic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent projected for 2025. The slowdown is partly attributed to the maturing nature of the PC ecosystem and the migration of many casual gamers toward mobile platforms.
**Business‑model dynamics** Premium and mid‑priced releases are slated to keep sustaining full‑game revenue streams, but microtransactions are projected to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative business model across all platforms. This shift reflects the continued appetite for ongoing monetisation through cosmetics, battle passes, and other in‑game purchases, especially in live‑service titles. **Geographic growth patterns** Growth is expected to be geographically broad, with the Asia‑Pacific region remaining the largest contributor to overall market expansion.
Meanwhile, Latin America and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions are projected to post the fastest growth rates, highlighting the rising importance of emerging markets. Newzoo notes that player penetration will inch up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026, suggesting limited room for expanding the base through deeper market saturation.
Instead, future growth will likely hinge on retaining existing players and extracting more value from them. **Player‑base projections** The total number of gamers worldwide is forecast to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.2 percent after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026. Mobile gamers will dominate the count, with an estimated 3.10 billion users in 2026—representing 84 percent of the total player population. PC gamers are expected to number around 977 million (26 percent), while console players will total approximately 651 million (18 percent).
These figures illustrate the continued shift toward mobile as the primary access point for gaming experiences. **Strategic implications** Newzoo emphasizes that the industry’s trajectory will increasingly depend on how well companies can retain and monetise their existing audiences rather than relying solely on acquiring new players.
This strategic pivot underscores the value of data‑driven engagement, loyalty programmes, and diversified revenue streams. Studios that invest in robust D2C platforms, cultivate strong community ties, and deliver compelling post‑launch content are likely to outperform peers in the coming years. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of steady, moderate growth for the global games market, powered by a blend of platform‑specific dynamics, blockbuster releases like Grand Theft Auto VI, and the relentless rise of mobile gaming. While the overall market expands, the emphasis will shift toward deeper monetisation of existing users, more sophisticated use of first‑party data, and a continued focus on emerging regions that promise fresh audiences and new revenue opportunities.