According to Newzoo’s latest Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by roughly 6.1 percent in 2026, pushing total revenues to an estimated $213.9 billion. More than half of this spending is expected to come from two powerhouses – China and the United States – underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in driving overall growth. The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform and business model, offering a detailed view of where the industry’s money will flow.
Console sales, for example, are projected to generate $46.9 billion, representing about 22 percent of the total market and marking a 5.1 percent year‑over‑year increase. A major catalyst for this uplift is the highly anticipated November release of Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo predicts the title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, making it the strongest growth driver among all business models this year. Mobile gaming remains the sector’s juggernaut, forecast to capture the largest slice of the pie at 57 percent, or $121.1 billion in revenue.
This segment is set to grow 6.8 percent compared with the previous year, a rise fueled by higher average spend per player and the expanding influence of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent FastSpring and Omdia survey highlights that 96 percent of game studios either already run or plan to launch a D2C web store. Developers cite benefits such as stronger brand visibility, deeper player loyalty, and richer first‑party data as key motivations for moving sales in‑house. In contrast, the PC market is projected to hold the smallest share, accounting for 21 percent of total revenue – roughly $45.9 billion.
While still growing, PC earnings are expected to rise 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, a slowdown from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo had forecast for 2025. The firm notes that PC growth will be geographically diverse, with notable gains in the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets. When it comes to business models, premium and mid‑priced titles are anticipated to keep sustaining full‑game revenue streams.
Meanwhile, microtransactions are poised to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative model, reflecting the industry’s ongoing shift toward in‑game purchases and ongoing monetisation strategies. Player numbers are also expected to evolve. The total global player base should reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2 percent CAGR after a 4.4 percent rise in 2026.
This slowdown suggests that future growth will rely more on extracting additional value from existing gamers rather than simply adding new users. Newzoo emphasizes that retaining and monetising the current audience will become increasingly critical as the market matures. Emerging markets will continue to be the engine of expansion.
The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor, while the Middle East and Africa are projected to experience the fastest growth rates. Mobile gamers alone are estimated to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of all players. PC gamers are expected to total about 977 million (26 percent of the total), and console users are forecast at 651 million, or 18 percent. Overall player penetration is predicted to edge up slightly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026.
However, Newzoo cautions that there is limited room for expanding the base through deeper market penetration; instead, growth will largely stem from the overall online population expanding by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of a robust yet increasingly competitive gaming landscape.
While console and PC segments see modest gains, mobile continues to dominate both revenue and player count. The launch of blockbuster titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI will act as a significant boost for full‑game sales, but the broader trend points toward a greater reliance on D2C strategies, microtransaction revenue, and the monetisation of existing players across all platforms. The industry’s future growth will hinge on how well developers can engage and retain their current audiences while navigating the nuanced dynamics of emerging regions and evolving consumer preferences.