In 2025, China’s video‑game market crossed the $50 billion threshold for the first time, registering a 5.4 percent increase over the previous year and reaching an estimated $51.8 billion in revenue. This landmark achievement was highlighted in a fresh analysis released by market‑research firm Niko Partners, which also outlined a forward‑looking outlook for the sector. According to the report, the industry is expected to expand by roughly 4 percent in 2026, pushing total earnings to about $53.9 billion, and to continue its upward trajectory to $59.8 billion by the close of 2030. Those figures translate into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 2.9 percent over the five‑year span.
The research also projects a sizable swell in the player base. By 2030, the number of Chinese gamers is anticipated to climb to roughly 769 million, up from the current figures. In addition to sheer quantity, the average amount of time each player spends gaming each week is set to rise, moving from 14.1 hours in the most recent year to an estimated 15.8 hours per week by 2030. This increase in both user count and engagement time underscores the deepening penetration of video games into everyday life across the country.
Niko Partners attributes this robust growth to a combination of factors. First, newly launched titles have performed better than analysts originally expected, delivering strong initial sales and retention metrics. Second, legacy or "evergreen" games—titles that have remained popular for years—continue to generate substantial revenue streams, often through regular updates, seasonal events, and in‑game monetisation schemes.
Together, these dynamics have created a dual engine of revenue that fuels the overall market expansion. One segment that stands out as a major growth driver is the mini‑game category.
Roughly 80 percent of Chinese gamers report playing mini‑games, and this genre now accounts for close to one‑fifth of all mobile‑gaming spend. Mini‑games, which are typically short, highly accessible, and often integrated into larger platforms or social apps, have proven especially effective at capturing casual players and encouraging frequent, low‑friction transactions. Discovery channels are also evolving.
The study found that nearly half of all players turn to short‑form video platforms—such as Douyin, Kuaishou, and other TikTok‑style services—to learn about new releases, watch gameplay previews, and gather community opinions. These platforms have become essential marketing venues, allowing developers to showcase highlights in bite‑sized clips that can quickly go viral.
Despite the market’s rapid growth, a significant portion of the user base continues to navigate around China’s internet censorship regime. About 66 percent of surveyed gamers reported employing some form of circumvention technique. Of those, 30.8 percent connect to overseas game servers, 33.6 percent rely on gaming‑accelerator tools that optimise routing and reduce latency, and 21.9 percent use virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their location and gain access to restricted content. Policy developments are also reshaping the landscape.
Earlier in the year, the Chinese government incorporated video games into its 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) for National Economic and Social Development, elevating games from a niche cultural product to a recognized component of the digital economy. This formal acknowledgment signals a more supportive regulatory environment and may pave the way for clearer guidelines, smoother licensing processes, and potentially new incentives for developers. Looking ahead, Niko Partners identified five key trends that are likely to define the Chinese gaming market over the next five years: 1.
**Growth of niche genres** – As the market matures, players are seeking more specialised experiences, prompting developers to explore genres such as simulation, strategy, and educational games. 2.
**Rise of out‑of‑app monetisation** – Revenue models that extend beyond the traditional app store, including cross‑platform subscriptions, cloud‑gaming services, and blockchain‑based assets, are expected to gain traction. 3.
**Regulatory improvements** – Continued clarification of content standards and streamlined approval processes should reduce uncertainty for publishers and encourage investment. 4. **Higher spending on premium PC and console titles** – With rising disposable income and a growing appetite for high‑quality, immersive experiences, consumers are projected to allocate more of their gaming budget to premium hardware and AAA releases. 5.
**Integration of generative AI** – Chinese studios are rapidly adopting generative artificial intelligence across development pipelines, from procedural content creation to dynamic narrative generation, and even player‑facing features such as AI‑driven NPCs and real‑time translation. The report highlights that the surge in generative‑AI infrastructure is already stimulating demand for high‑performance hardware, particularly RAM and semiconductor components, as developers require more computational power to run sophisticated AI models.
Nonetheless, Niko Partners stresses that the combination of ongoing innovation, clearer regulatory signals, and strong player engagement will continue to underpin long‑term growth in China’s gaming ecosystem. In summary, the Chinese video‑game market is not only breaking revenue records but also evolving in terms of player behaviour, technology adoption, and policy support. With a projected near‑$60 billion valuation by 2030, a burgeoning player base, and a wave of emerging trends—from niche genre expansion to AI‑driven development—industry stakeholders can anticipate a vibrant and dynamic landscape that offers abundant opportunities for both domestic and international participants.