According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, slated for full release on September 10, the worldwide video‑game sector is set to expand by 6.1 percent over the next year, reaching an estimated $213.9 billion in revenue. More than half of that total spend will be generated by two powerhouse markets—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these regions in shaping industry trends. Console platforms are expected to contribute roughly 22 percent of the overall market, translating to about $46.9 billion in sales. This segment is projected to grow at a 5.1 percent annual rate, buoyed in large part by the highly anticipated November launch of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI.
Newzoo predicts that the new title will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming will retain its position as the largest platform category, accounting for 57 percent of total revenue and reaching $121.1 billion. The mobile segment’s year‑on‑year increase of 6.8 percent is driven by two complementary forces: higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent joint survey by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already operate or plan to launch a D2C web storefront.
Developers cite greater brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and direct access to first‑party customer data as the primary incentives for this shift. In contrast, the PC market is projected to hold the smallest share at 21 percent, amounting to $45.9 billion in revenue. While still growing—at an estimated 5.3 percent year‑over‑year—PC’s growth rate is expected to decelerate compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) forecast for 2025. Newzoo attributes this slowdown to market maturation and increasing competition from mobile and console titles.
Regarding business models, premium and mid‑priced releases are forecast to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams. However, microtransactions are poised to reclaim the top spot as the most lucrative model, reflecting a broader industry pivot toward in‑game purchases and ongoing content updates.
Geographically, PC growth is expected to be broadly distributed, with particularly strong performance in the Asia‑Pacific region, as well as in Latin America and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) markets. Player‑base dynamics also merit attention. Newzoo projects that the total number of gamers worldwide will climb to 4.07 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 3.2 percent from 2026 onward.
This marks a slowdown from the 4.4 percent year‑on‑year increase anticipated for 2026, suggesting that future expansion will rely more on deepening engagement with existing users rather than on attracting large numbers of new players. The firm emphasizes that market growth will increasingly hinge on retaining and monetising the current audience base. Regional growth patterns reveal that emerging markets are the primary engines of expansion. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to overall revenue, while the Middle East and Africa are experiencing the fastest growth rates.
Mobile gaming will dominate player counts, with an estimated 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026—accounting for roughly 84 percent of the total gaming population. PC gamers are projected to number 977 million (about 26 percent), and console players are expected to reach 651 million (approximately 18 percent). Player penetration is forecast to edge up slightly, from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo notes that the scope for expanding the base through deeper market penetration is limited; instead, growth will largely stem from the overall online population increasing by 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion people.
This nuance highlights the importance of strategic monetisation and engagement tactics as the industry moves toward a more saturated, yet still lucrative, digital landscape. In summary, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of steady, moderate growth across all major platforms, with mobile continuing to dominate both revenue and player numbers. The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI stands out as a catalyst for a notable surge in full‑game spending, while the shift toward D2C storefronts signals a broader trend of developers seeking tighter control over distribution and customer relationships. As the global player base expands more slowly, success will increasingly depend on how effectively studios can retain existing gamers, optimise in‑game monetisation, and tap into the rising potential of emerging regions.