In 2025, China’s video‑game market broke through the $50 billion barrier for the first time, registering a year‑on‑year increase of 5.4% and reaching a total revenue of $51.8 billion. This achievement underscores the resilience and scale of the world’s largest gaming ecosystem, even as it navigates regulatory shifts and evolving consumer habits. According to a fresh analysis released by market‑research firm Niko Partners, the upward trajectory is set to continue.
The consultancy projects a modest 4% growth in 2026, which would lift total market earnings to roughly $53.9 billion. By the close of the next decade, the sector is expected to expand to $59.8 billion, implying a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.9% over the five‑year span. Player numbers are anticipated to mirror this financial expansion.
Niko Partners estimates that the Chinese gaming audience will swell to 769 million active users by 2030. In parallel, average weekly playtime is projected to climb from 14.1 hours in 2024 to 15.8 hours per week, suggesting that gamers are not only becoming more numerous but also more engaged. The firm attributes the surge in both revenue and player activity to a combination of strong launches of new titles and the enduring popularity of legacy, evergreen games. In particular, the mini‑game segment has emerged as a pivotal growth engine.
Roughly 80% of Chinese gamers report playing mini‑games, a genre that now accounts for close to one‑fifth of all mobile‑gaming spend in the country. Discovery channels are also evolving. Nearly half of the surveyed players indicated that they turn to short‑form video platforms—such as Douyin and Kuaishou—to learn about upcoming releases, watch gameplay clips, and gather community insights.
This trend highlights the increasing importance of visual, bite‑sized content in shaping purchasing decisions. Despite a tightening digital environment, a sizable portion of the audience employs workarounds to access content beyond the Great Firewall.
The report finds that 66% of gamers use some form of circumvention technology. Specifically, 30.8% connect to overseas servers, 33.6% rely on gaming accelerators that optimize latency, and 21.9% make use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions. Policy developments have also begun to reflect the sector’s economic weight. 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 them from a peripheral cultural product to a recognized driver of digital growth.
This official endorsement may signal a more predictable regulatory landscape in the years ahead. Looking forward, Niko Partners outlines five macro‑trends that are likely to shape the market through 2030: 1. **Niche genre expansion** – Genres that previously occupied small corners of the market, such as simulation, strategy, and indie‑driven experiences, are gaining traction as players seek fresh experiences beyond mainstream battle‑royale and mobile‑RPG titles.
2. **Out‑of‑app monetisation** – Developers are increasingly turning to cross‑platform ecosystems, merchandise, and subscription services that generate revenue outside the traditional in‑app purchase model.
3. **Regulatory refinement** – Continued dialogue between industry stakeholders and regulators is expected to produce clearer guidelines, reducing uncertainty and encouraging investment.
4. **Premium PC and console spending** – As disposable income rises, a growing segment of gamers is willing to spend more on high‑end hardware, premium titles, and downloadable content, bolstering the high‑value segment of the market. 5. **Generative AI integration** – Chinese studios are rapidly experimenting with AI tools across the development pipeline, from procedural content generation to dynamic dialogue systems, while also leveraging AI‑driven user‑generated content platforms to keep communities vibrant.
The AI wave, in particular, is having ripple effects beyond creative workflows. The surge in demand for advanced AI models has spurred a heightened need for high‑performance computing resources, driving up demand for RAM and semiconductor components within China’s broader tech supply chain. Despite the rapid evolution of technology and the occasional policy adjustment, Niko Partners remains optimistic. The firm stresses that sustained innovation, clearer regulatory signals, and a deeply engaged player base together form a sturdy foundation for long‑term growth in China’s gaming market.
As the ecosystem matures, stakeholders—from developers and publishers to hardware manufacturers and advertisers—are poised to benefit from a market that is both financially robust and culturally influential. In summary, the Chinese gaming industry is on a clear upward path: surpassing the $50 billion mark in 2025, projected to near $60 billion by 2030, while its user base expands toward three‑quarters of a billion players. The convergence of strong title performance, evolving consumption habits, policy support, and cutting‑edge AI adoption suggests that the sector will continue to be a cornerstone of China’s digital economy for years to come.