According to Newzoo’s latest Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, bringing total revenue to roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of this consumer spend will be concentrated in just two markets—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these regions in the industry. The full report, scheduled for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform and business model.
Console games are expected to generate $46.9 billion, representing about 22 percent of the total market and reflecting a 5.1 percent year‑over‑year increase. A key driver of this growth is the highly anticipated November launch of Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo predicts the new title will lift full‑game spending by 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models for the year.
Mobile gaming remains the largest segment, projected to capture 57 percent of global revenue—$121.1 billion—thanks to a 6.8 percent increase over the previous year. This rise is fueled by higher average spend per player and the expanding influence of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels.
A recent FastSpring and Omdia survey revealed that 96 percent of development studios either already run or plan to launch a D2C storefront, attracted by the promise of stronger brand visibility, deeper customer loyalty, and richer first‑party data. In contrast, the PC segment is slated to hold the smallest share at 21 percent, or $45.9 billion. While still growing—at an estimated 5.3 percent year‑over‑year—its pace is expected to slow compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate Newzoo had projected for 2025.
The report suggests that PC growth will be geographically diverse, 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 titles are forecast to sustain revenue from full‑game purchases.
Meanwhile, microtransactions are set to reclaim their status as the leading business model, driven by the continued popularity of in‑game purchases across all platforms. Player numbers are also a focal point of the outlook. Newzoo expects the global player base to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual rate of 3.2 percent after a 4.4 percent increase in 2026.
This slowdown reflects a maturing market where future growth will rely more on retaining and monetising existing gamers than on attracting new ones. The report notes that player penetration will edge up slightly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026, indicating limited headroom for expanding the base through deeper market penetration. Instead, overall growth will be driven by the online population expanding by roughly 3.5 percent to an estimated 5.97 billion people.
Regional dynamics highlight the importance of emerging markets. Asia‑Pacific continues to be the largest geographic contributor, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest rate.
Mobile gamers are projected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, accounting for 84 percent of all players. PC gamers are expected to reach 977 million (about 26 percent of the total), and console players will number approximately 651 million, representing 18 percent of the global audience. Overall, Newzoo’s analysis paints a picture of a robust yet increasingly saturated industry. The surge in D2C storefronts signals a shift toward greater control over distribution and customer relationships, while the anticipated success of blockbuster releases like Grand Theft Auto VI underscores the enduring power of high‑budget, narrative‑driven titles.
As the market leans more heavily on existing users, developers and publishers will need to focus on deepening engagement, refining monetisation tactics, and leveraging first‑party data to sustain growth in the years ahead.