According to Newzoo’s latest Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by 6.1% in 2026, pushing total revenue to roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of this spending will be generated by consumers in just two countries—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in the digital entertainment landscape.
The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and geography, offering a detailed picture of where growth is expected to originate. Console sales are predicted to represent 22% of the overall market, amounting to $46.9 billion, which translates to a 5.1% year‑over‑year increase.
A key driver behind this uptick is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ next‑generation title, Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo estimates that the new installment will lift full‑game spending by 17.5%, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming remains the heavyweight, projected to capture the largest slice of the market at 57% with revenues of $121.1 billion.
This segment is expected to grow 6.8% compared with the previous year, propelled by higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent study conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96% of game studios either already run or intend to launch their own D2C web stores.
Developers cite greater brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and richer first‑party data as primary incentives for moving sales in‑house. In contrast, the PC platform is forecast to hold the smallest share of total revenue, at 21% or $45.9 billion. While still growing—Newzoo projects a 5.3% year‑over‑year rise—the pace is expected to decelerate from the 12% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) that was anticipated for 2025.
The report notes that premium and mid‑priced titles will continue to sustain full‑game revenue on PC, but microtransaction‑driven models are set to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative business approach across all platforms. Geographically, growth will be increasingly diffuse. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor, but the Middle East and Africa are emerging as the fastest‑growing markets.
Newzoo predicts that player growth will slow from a 4.4% year‑over‑year increase in 2026 to a 3.2% CAGR through 2029. By the end of the forecast horizon, the global player base is expected to reach 4.07 billion users. The composition of the player base also shifts toward mobile.
In 2026, mobile gamers are estimated at 3.10 billion, representing roughly 84% of all players. PC gamers will number about 977 million (approximately 26% of the total), while console enthusiasts are projected to reach 651 million, or 18% of the worldwide audience.
Overall player penetration is slated to edge up marginally from 61.5% to 62% in 2026, reflecting a limited capacity for expanding the market through deeper saturation. Instead, growth will largely depend on the online population expanding by 3.5% to reach 5.97 billion people. Newzoo emphasizes that future expansion will hinge more on retaining and monetising existing gamers rather than on attracting new users.
This strategic insight suggests that studios will need to focus on enhancing player lifetime value, refining in‑game economies, and delivering ongoing content updates to keep audiences engaged. The report also highlights the growing importance of first‑party data collected via D2C channels, which allows developers to tailor experiences, personalize offers, and improve conversion rates. In summary, the 2026 outlook paints a picture of a mature yet still expanding industry.
While overall revenue is set to climb to $213.9 billion, the pace of growth varies by platform and region. Mobile continues to dominate both in terms of revenue share and player numbers, consoles benefit from marquee releases like Grand Theft Auto VI, and PC, though smaller, remains a critical arena for premium titles and evolving monetisation models.
As the market matures, success will increasingly be measured by how effectively companies can nurture existing communities, leverage direct‑to‑consumer storefronts, and innovate within established business models to sustain revenue streams over the long term.