According to Newzoo’s upcoming 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 this consumer spend is expected to come from just two markets—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these regions in the industry. The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform and business model, offering a detailed look at where growth will originate. Console sales, for instance, are projected to generate $46.9 billion, representing about 22 percent of the total market and reflecting a 5.1 percent year‑on‑year increase.
A major driver behind this uplift is the anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ next‑generation title, Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo predicts that the new entry will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the forecast period.
Mobile gaming remains the largest segment by far, accounting for roughly 57 percent of global revenue and reaching an estimated $121.1 billion. This growth, measured at 6.8 percent year‑over‑year, is fueled by higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C storefronts. Studios cite benefits such as heightened brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and direct access to first‑party data as key motivations for this shift. In contrast, the PC segment is forecast to hold the smallest share of the market at 21 percent, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue.
While still growing—Newzoo estimates a 5.3 percent increase year‑over‑year—PC growth is expected to decelerate compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. The report suggests that PC expansion will be geographically broad, with notable gains in the Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions. When it comes to monetisation strategies, premium and mid‑priced releases are expected to continue sustaining revenue from full‑game purchases. Meanwhile, microtransactions are projected to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative business model, driven by the ongoing popularity of in‑game purchases across all platforms.
The analysis indicates that future growth will rely increasingly on retaining existing players and extracting more value from them, rather than simply adding new users to the ecosystem. Player‑base dynamics also feature prominently in Newzoo’s outlook. The total number of gamers worldwide is projected to rise to 4.07 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 3.2 percent after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026.
However, the rate of player acquisition is expected to slow, with growth becoming more about deeper engagement within the current audience. Penetration rates are forecast to edge up marginally from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026, reflecting limited room for expanding the base through new market entry. Instead, the overall online population is anticipated to grow by 3.5 percent, reaching roughly 5.97 billion people. Regional trends highlight the importance of emerging markets.
Asia‑Pacific remains the largest geographic region in terms of both revenue and player count, while the Middle East and Africa are projected to experience the fastest growth rates. Mobile gaming will dominate player numbers, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026—about 84 percent of the total gaming population.
PC gamers are expected to number around 977 million (approximately 26 percent), and console players about 651 million (roughly 18 percent). In summary, Newzoo’s 2026 forecast paints a picture of a maturing industry where incremental revenue gains are driven more by deeper monetisation of existing users than by sheer expansion of the player pool.
The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI stands out as a catalyst for full‑game sales, while the continued rise of D2C storefronts and microtransaction models underscores the shifting economics of game distribution. As growth concentrates in emerging regions and mobile platforms, developers and publishers will need to adapt their strategies to capture value from a more diversified and increasingly sophisticated global audience.