In 2025, China's video‑game market broke through the $50 billion barrier for the first time, posting a year‑on‑year increase of 5.4% and reaching a total revenue of $51.8 billion. This landmark achievement signals the continued maturation of one of the world’s largest gaming ecosystems and sets the stage for further expansion in the coming years. According to a fresh analysis released by market‑research firm Niko Partners, the sector is expected to keep climbing, albeit at a more measured pace.
The firm projects a 4% rise in 2026, which would lift the market size to roughly $53.9 billion. By the close of the current Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030), total revenue is projected to approach $59.8 billion, implying a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.9% over the five‑year horizon. One of the most striking data points in the report concerns the size of the player base. Niko Partners estimates that by 2030, China will host around 769 million gamers, an increase that reflects both population growth and deeper penetration of mobile and online gaming.
In tandem with the expanding audience, average weekly playtime is forecast to climb to 15.8 hours per player, up from 14.1 hours recorded in the previous year. This uptick in engagement suggests that gamers are not only increasing in number but also dedicating more of their leisure time to interactive entertainment.
The research attributes the revenue surge and user growth to a combination of strong performance from newly launched titles and sustained popularity of long‑standing evergreen games. Developers have been successful in delivering fresh experiences that capture attention, while classic franchises continue to generate reliable income streams through regular updates, seasonal events, and in‑game monetisation mechanisms. Mini‑games have emerged as a particularly potent growth segment.
Approximately 80% of Chinese gamers report playing mini‑games, a genre that now accounts for nearly one‑fifth of all mobile‑gaming expenditure. These bite‑sized experiences benefit from low barriers to entry, quick session lengths, and a high propensity for social sharing, making them attractive both to casual players and to advertisers seeking broad reach.
Discovery channels are also evolving. The study finds that almost 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 clips, and gather community opinions. This shift underscores the importance of visual content and influencer marketing in shaping purchasing decisions within the Chinese market.
Despite the market’s rapid growth, a sizable proportion of gamers continue to circumvent domestic internet restrictions to access global content. The report indicates that 66% of respondents employ some form of circumvention technique.
Of these, 30.8% connect to overseas servers, 33.6% rely on gaming accelerators that optimise network routes, and 21.9% use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass firewalls. This behaviour reflects both a desire for a broader game catalogue and a willingness to invest in tools that enhance connectivity. Policy developments have also played a role in shaping the landscape.
Earlier in the year, China formally incorporated video games into its 15th Five‑Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2026‑2030). Previously classified merely as digital cultural products, games now enjoy a higher strategic status, signalling governmental recognition of their economic and cultural impact.
This inclusion is expected to bring clearer regulatory guidance and potentially more supportive measures for the industry. Niko Partners outlines five major trends that will define the Chinese gaming market over the next five years: 1.
**Growth in niche genres** – Developers are increasingly targeting specialised audiences, such as simulation, strategy, and educational titles, which can command higher willingness‑to‑pay. 2.
**Expansion of out‑of‑app monetisation** – Revenue streams outside traditional in‑app purchases, including subscription services, cloud gaming, and cross‑platform ecosystems, are set to gain traction. 3. **Regulatory improvements** – Anticipated refinements in content approval processes and licensing are expected to reduce uncertainty for publishers.
4. **Higher consumer spending on premium PC and console experiences** – As disposable income rises, more gamers are investing in high‑end hardware and premium titles, driving growth beyond the mobile‑first paradigm. 5.
**Integration of generative AI** – Chinese studios are rapidly adopting generative artificial intelligence across development pipelines, from procedural content creation to AI‑driven NPC behaviour, and even player‑facing features such as dynamic storytelling. The firm highlights that generative AI is not only reshaping content creation but also fueling a broader boom in user‑generated content platforms. Creators can now leverage AI tools to produce assets, design levels, and script dialogues at unprecedented speed, lowering barriers to entry for indie developers and fostering a vibrant ecosystem of community‑driven experiences. While the proliferation of AI technologies has spurred demand for high‑performance computing resources—particularly RAM and advanced semiconductor components—Niko Partners cautions that the market’s long‑term health remains anchored in three pillars: ongoing innovation, clearer regulatory frameworks, and sustained player engagement.
As long as developers continue to deliver compelling experiences, regulators maintain a supportive stance, and gamers stay actively involved, China’s gaming sector is poised to maintain its upward trajectory well into the next decade. In summary, the Chinese gaming market has crossed a historic $50 billion threshold, with projections indicating steady growth toward $60 billion by 2030. The expansion is driven by a larger, more engaged player base, the rise of mini‑games, evolving discovery channels, and a willingness among gamers to navigate around censorship.
Policy recognition, emerging niche genres, new monetisation models, and the rapid adoption of generative AI collectively shape a dynamic environment that promises continued innovation and economic contribution for years to come.