In 2025, China's video‑game market crossed the $50 billion threshold for the first time, registering a year‑over‑year increase of 5.4% and reaching a total revenue of $51.8 billion. This landmark achievement reflects the continued vitality of the country's digital entertainment ecosystem 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 projected to grow another 4% in 2026, nudging total sales to roughly $53.9 billion. The outlook remains upbeat through the end of the decade, with the firm estimating that by 2030 the market will generate close to $59.8 billion in revenue. That trajectory translates into a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 2.9% over the five‑year span, indicating a steady, if not explosive, pace of development. Player numbers are expected to follow a similar upward trend.
Niko Partners forecasts that the Chinese gaming audience will swell to approximately 769 million users by 2030, up from the current base. In addition to sheer headcount, average weekly playtime is set to rise, reaching 15.8 hours per player compared with 14.1 hours recorded in the previous year. This increase in engagement time suggests that gamers are dedicating more of their leisure hours to interactive entertainment, a pattern that fuels higher in‑game spending and ad revenue.
The research attributes the robust revenue growth and expanding player pool to a combination of strong performance from newly launched titles and the sustained popularity of legacy, evergreen games. Developers have succeeded in delivering fresh experiences that capture attention, while established franchises continue to generate reliable income streams through updates, expansions, and seasonal events. One of the most dynamic segments identified in the report is the mini‑game market.
Roughly 80% of Chinese gamers report playing mini‑games, and this category now accounts for almost one‑fifth of all mobile‑game expenditure. The appeal of short, easily accessible experiences—often embedded within larger platforms or social apps—has created a lucrative niche that both domestic and international publishers are eager to tap.
Discovery channels are also evolving. Nearly half of the surveyed players rely on short‑form video platforms to learn about new titles, watch gameplay clips, and stay informed about updates across multiple ecosystems. This trend underscores the growing importance of influencer marketing and user‑generated content in shaping purchasing decisions. Despite the market’s growth, a significant proportion of gamers continue to circumvent the nation’s internet censorship mechanisms.
The study finds that 66% of Chinese players employ various work‑arounds to access content that might otherwise be restricted. Among these, 30.8% connect to overseas servers, 33.6% make use of gaming accelerators to reduce latency, and 21.9% turn to virtual private networks (VPNs).
These figures highlight the persistent demand for unrestricted gaming experiences and the lengths to which users will go to obtain them. Policy developments are also influencing the industry’s trajectory. Earlier in the year, the Chinese government incorporated video games into its 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) for National Economic and Social Development.
Previously classified merely as digital cultural products, games now enjoy a more formalized status within the nation’s strategic economic framework, signaling potential regulatory stability and greater support for innovation. Niko Partners distilled five major trends that are likely to shape China’s gaming landscape over the next five years: 1.
**Growth in niche genres** – Developers are exploring specialized gameplay experiences that cater to specific audience segments, diversifying the portfolio beyond mainstream action and role‑playing titles. 2. **Rise of out‑of‑app monetisation** – Publishers are increasingly leveraging external channels such as web portals, social media, and e‑commerce platforms to generate revenue, reducing reliance on traditional in‑app purchases. 3.
**Regulatory improvements** – Ongoing reforms aim to clarify approval processes and content guidelines, creating a more predictable environment for developers and investors. 4.
**Higher consumer spending on premium PC and console games** – As disposable incomes rise, a growing segment of gamers is willing to pay premium prices for high‑quality, immersive experiences on more powerful hardware. 5.
**Integration of generative AI** – Artificial‑intelligence tools are being adopted across development pipelines, from procedural content creation to dynamic player‑facing features, accelerating production cycles and enhancing personalization. The report emphasizes that Chinese game studios are rapidly embracing generative AI technologies, incorporating them into everything from level design to real‑time translation and adaptive difficulty systems. This adoption dovetails with a broader surge in user‑generated content platforms, where creators can produce and share their own game assets, mods, and narratives, further enriching the ecosystem.
The expansion of AI infrastructure is also driving demand for high‑performance hardware, particularly RAM and semiconductor components, as developers require more computational power to run sophisticated models. Nonetheless, Niko Partners remains confident that the combination of continuous innovation, clearer regulatory signals, and strong player engagement will sustain long‑term growth in China’s gaming market. In summary, the Chinese video‑game sector has not only broken the $50 billion barrier but is poised to continue its ascent toward a near‑$60 billion industry by 2030.
The convergence of expanding user bases, longer play sessions, emerging monetisation models, supportive policy shifts, and cutting‑edge AI adoption creates a fertile environment for both domestic developers and international partners seeking to capture a share of one of the world’s most vibrant gaming markets.