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 is expected to come from just two markets—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these economies in the digital entertainment landscape.
The full report, scheduled for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform, business model and regional trends. Console hardware and software sales are projected to represent 22 percent of the overall market, amounting to $46.9 billion, and are anticipated to grow 5.1 percent year‑over‑year. A key driver behind this uplift is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ next‑generation title, Grand Theft Auto VI.
Newzoo predicts the new entry will lift full‑game spending by 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming remains the largest slice of the pie, accounting for 57 percent of total revenues and reaching $121.1 billion. This segment is expected to climb 6.8 percent from the previous year, propelled by higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent FastSpring and Omdia survey revealed that 96 percent of development studios either already run a D2C storefront or plan to launch one, citing benefits such as greater brand visibility, deeper customer loyalty, and richer first‑party data that can be leveraged for personalized marketing and monetisation. In contrast, the PC gaming market is forecast to hold the smallest share at 21 percent, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue.
Growth on this platform is expected to slow to 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, a noticeable dip from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. Nevertheless, Newzoo notes that PC growth will be geographically diverse, with strong performance anticipated across Asia‑Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions.
When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑priced titles are expected to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams, while microtransactions are projected to reclaim their position as the largest source of income across all platforms. This shift reflects a broader industry trend toward hybrid monetisation strategies that blend upfront purchases with ongoing in‑game spending. Player numbers are also a focal point of the outlook. The total global player base is projected to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026.
Newzoo cautions that future expansion will rely increasingly on retaining and monetising existing gamers rather than acquiring new ones, as the market approaches saturation in many mature regions. Emerging markets will continue to be the engine of growth.
Asia‑Pacific remains the largest region by player count, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest rate. Mobile gamers alone are expected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of all players worldwide. PC gamers are forecast to reach 977 million (about 26 percent of the total), and console players are projected at 651 million, or 18 percent. Overall player penetration is slated to edge up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026.
However, Newzoo points out that there is limited headroom for further deepening of market penetration; most growth will stem from the online population itself expanding by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of a mature yet still expanding gaming ecosystem. While console and PC segments experience modest growth, mobile continues to dominate both revenue and player numbers. The launch of blockbuster titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI will act as a catalyst for full‑game spending, and the rise of D2C storefronts will give developers more direct control over distribution and monetisation.
As the industry moves forward, the emphasis will shift toward extracting more value from existing audiences, leveraging data‑driven insights, and tapping the untapped potential of emerging regions to sustain the upward trajectory of the global games market.