According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by 6.1% in 2026, climbing to an estimated $213.9 billion in revenue. More than half of this spending will be driven by two powerhouse markets—China and the United States—underscoring their continued dominance in the industry.
The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the projected earnings by platform. Console sales are expected to contribute roughly $46.9 billion, representing 22% of the total market and reflecting a 5.1% year‑over‑year increase. A major catalyst for this growth is the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI.
Newzoo predicts that the new title will lift full‑game spending by 17.5%, marking the strongest growth rate among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming remains the largest segment, projected to capture 57% of global revenue with a total of $121.1 billion. This 6.8% annual 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% of development studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C web stores.
Studios cite benefits such as heightened brand visibility, stronger customer loyalty, and richer 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%, translating to $45.9 billion in revenue. Growth on this platform is expected to slow to 5.3% year‑over‑year, down from the 12% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025.
Despite the modest pace, Newzoo expects PC growth to be geographically diverse, with notable expansion in the Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions. When it comes to monetisation models, premium and mid‑priced releases are projected to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams.
Meanwhile, microtransactions are poised to reclaim their status as the largest business model across platforms, driven by ongoing consumer appetite for in‑game purchases and ongoing content updates. Player numbers are also a focal point of the forecast. The total global player base is expected to reach 4.07 billion by 2029, growing at a 3.2% CAGR after a 4.4% increase in 2026.
However, Newzoo cautions that future growth will rely more on retaining and monetising existing gamers rather than attracting large numbers of new users. This shift reflects the increasingly saturated nature of the market and the limited scope for deepening penetration beyond the current 61.5% of the online population.
By 2026, player penetration is projected to edge up slightly to 62%, as the overall online population expands by about 3.5% to reach 5.97 billion people. Regional dynamics highlight that growth is concentrating in emerging markets.
The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to overall revenue, while the Middle East and Africa are experiencing the fastest growth rates, driven by rising smartphone adoption and expanding broadband infrastructure. In terms of player distribution by platform, mobile gamers are expected to number 3.10 billion in 2026, accounting for roughly 84% of all players. PC gamers are projected at 977 million (about 26% of the total), and console players at 651 million (approximately 18%).
These figures illustrate the continued dominance of mobile as the primary entry point for new gamers, while console and PC ecosystems retain strong, albeit smaller, communities. The report also underscores the strategic importance of D2C initiatives. By bypassing traditional storefronts, developers can capture a larger share of revenue, gather direct consumer insights, and foster deeper brand relationships. This trend is expected to accelerate as more studios invest in proprietary storefronts and subscription services.
Overall, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of a maturing industry where incremental revenue growth, platform diversification, and sophisticated monetisation strategies will define success. While the sheer size of the market continues to expand, the emphasis will shift toward maximizing value from existing players, leveraging data‑driven insights, and capitalising on flagship releases like Grand Theft Auto VI to spark spikes in full‑game spending.
The full Global Games Market Report will provide a deeper dive into these trends, offering granular data on regional performance, genre popularity, and emerging business models that are reshaping the gaming landscape for the next several years.