According to the latest outlook from market‑research firm Newzoo, 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 spending is expected to come from two powerhouse markets – China and the United States – underscoring the continued dominance of these regions in shaping global gaming trends.
The figures stem from Newzoo’s comprehensive Global Games Market Report, which will be released in full on 10 September. The report breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and geographic region, offering a detailed picture of where growth is expected to originate and which segments will drive the most value. **Console segment** Console sales are projected to account for about 22 percent of the total market, translating to $46.9 billion in revenue. This represents a 5.1 percent year‑on‑year increase and reflects the steady demand for high‑end hardware and premium titles.
A key catalyst for this uplift is the highly anticipated release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI in November 2026. Newzoo predicts that the new installment will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, labeling it the strongest growth among all business models for the year. The title’s broad appeal and massive fan base are expected to generate a surge in both software sales and ancillary spend, such as collector’s editions and related merchandise. **Mobile gaming** Mobile continues to dominate the platform landscape, projected to capture the largest slice at 57 percent of total revenue, or $121.1 billion.
The sector’s growth rate of 6.8 percent year‑over‑year is driven by two intertwined forces: higher average spend per player and the expanding influence of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. Mobile developers are increasingly bypassing traditional app‑store intermediaries, instead offering games through proprietary storefronts that allow for better control over pricing, promotions, and user data. Supporting this shift, a recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia found that 96 percent of game studios either already run a D2C web store or have concrete plans to launch one. Studios cite enhanced brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and richer access to first‑party data as primary motivations.
By owning the customer relationship directly, publishers can tailor experiences, run targeted marketing campaigns, and capture a larger share of the revenue pie. **PC gaming** The personal‑computer segment is expected to hold the smallest market share at 21 percent, equating to $45.9 billion.
While still sizable, PC growth is forecast to slow to 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, a noticeable dip from the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that Newzoo projected for 2025. The slowdown reflects a maturing market and heightened competition from mobile and console platforms. Nevertheless, Newzoo anticipates that PC growth will be geographically broad‑based, with the Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions contributing the most to incremental revenue. **Business‑model dynamics** Premium and mid‑priced releases are expected to keep sustaining revenue from full‑game purchases, especially as flagship titles like Grand Theft Auto VI hit the market.
At the same time, microtransactions – in‑game purchases of virtual goods, cosmetics, and consumables – are projected to reclaim the top spot as the largest business model overall. This resurgence is linked to the increasing sophistication of live‑service games, which continuously roll out new content and monetization opportunities to keep players engaged over longer periods.
**Player base outlook** The global player population is slated to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual rate of 3.2 percent after a 4.4 percent rise in 2026. Newzoo cautions that future expansion will rely more on retaining and monetising existing users than on acquiring fresh gamers. This shift underscores the importance of deepening engagement, improving player lifetime value, and delivering ongoing content updates.
Growth is presently concentrated in emerging markets. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest pace. Mobile gamers are projected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, representing roughly 84 percent of the total player base.
PC gamers are expected to total 977 million (about 26 percent), and console enthusiasts will number around 651 million (approximately 18 percent). Player penetration – the proportion of the global online population that plays games – is forecast to edge up from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo notes that there is limited headroom for further expansion through deeper penetration; instead, growth will stem from the overall online population increasing by about 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion users.
In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of steady, diversified growth across platforms and regions. While mobile maintains its dominance, console and PC segments each have distinct opportunities, particularly around high‑profile releases and evolving monetisation strategies. Studios that can effectively harness D2C channels, retain existing players, and adapt to regional market nuances are likely to capture the lion’s share of the expanding $213.9 billion pie.