According to the latest outlook from market‑research firm Newzoo, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, delivering a total revenue of roughly $213.9 billion. More than half of this spending is expected to originate from two powerhouses—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in shaping global gaming trends. The figures stem from Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, which will be released in full on September 10.
The report breaks down the forecast by platform, business model, and regional dynamics, offering a granular view of where growth is expected to come from over the next few years. **Console segment** Console‑related income is projected to represent 22 percent of the total market, amounting to $46.9 billion. This reflects a year‑over‑year increase of 5.1 percent. A key driver behind this uplift is the highly anticipated release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI in November 2026.
Newzoo estimates that the launch will lift full‑game spending by an impressive 17.5 percent, marking the strongest growth among all business models in the industry for the year. The heightened enthusiasm for a marquee franchise like GTA is expected to ripple through the console ecosystem, boosting hardware sales, accessory purchases, and ancillary services. **Mobile dominance** Mobile gaming remains the largest slice of the pie, slated to capture 57 percent of total revenue and generate $121.1 billion.
This segment is set to grow 6.8 percent year‑on‑year, propelled by two interrelated forces: rising player spend per capita and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. Mobile developers are increasingly bypassing traditional app‑store gatekeepers, opting instead to sell games directly through proprietary websites or in‑app storefronts.
This shift not only improves profit margins but also grants publishers richer first‑party data, which can be leveraged to personalize offers and improve retention. A recent joint survey by FastSpring and Omdia highlighted that 96 percent of game studios either already operate or plan to launch a D2C web store. Studios cite enhanced brand visibility, stronger player loyalty, and deeper insight into customer behavior as primary motivations for this strategic move. As D2C adoption spreads, the mobile market’s revenue trajectory is likely to stay robust, even as the overall pool of casual players matures.
**PC outlook** The personal‑computer segment is expected to hold the smallest market share at 21 percent, delivering $45.9 billion in revenue. Growth for PC games is forecast at 5.3 percent year‑over‑year, a slowdown compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) projected for 2025. The deceleration reflects a maturing ecosystem where high‑spending early adopters have already been captured, and future expansion will rely more on geographic diversification than on pure volume. Newzoo anticipates that PC growth will be "geographically broad," with the strongest gains coming from the Asia‑Pacific region, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) corridor.
These markets are witnessing rising broadband penetration, increasing disposable income, and a cultural shift toward digital entertainment, all of which are fueling demand for PC‑based titles, especially in the premium and mid‑priced brackets. **Business‑model trends** Premium and mid‑priced releases are expected to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams, while microtransactions are projected to reclaim the position of the largest business model across all platforms. The resurgence of microtransactions is tied to the growing sophistication of in‑game economies and the willingness of players to spend on cosmetic items, battle passes, and other optional content that enhances the gameplay experience without compromising core progression. **Player‑base dynamics** Overall player growth is slated to decelerate.
Newzoo predicts a 4.4 percent year‑on‑year increase in the global player base for 2026, followed by a slower compound annual growth rate of 3.2 percent through 2029. By the end of the forecast horizon, the total number of gamers worldwide is expected to reach approximately 4.07 billion.
The report emphasizes that future expansion will hinge more on retaining and monetising existing players rather than on acquiring new ones. As the market matures, studios will need to invest heavily in live‑service models, community engagement, and data‑driven personalization to extract additional value from their current audiences. **Regional breakdown** Growth is increasingly concentrated in emerging economies. The Asia‑Pacific region remains the largest contributor to total revenue, while the Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest pace, thanks to improving digital infrastructure and a youthful, tech‑savvy population.
In terms of player distribution, 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 gamers are forecast at 651 million (roughly 18 percent). These figures illustrate the continued dominance of mobile as the primary entry point for new gamers, while PC and console platforms retain strong, dedicated communities.
**Penetration and outlook** Player penetration—the proportion of the global online population that engages in gaming—is slated to rise modestly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026. Newzoo notes that there is limited headroom for expanding the base through deeper market penetration; instead, growth will be driven by the overall expansion of the online population, which is projected to increase by 3.5 percent to 5.97 billion users. In summary, the 2026 gaming landscape will be characterized by steady revenue growth, a pronounced shift toward mobile and D2C distribution, and a strategic emphasis on monetising existing players.
The launch of blockbuster titles like Grand Theft Auto VI will act as catalytic events, sparking spikes in full‑game spending and reinforcing the importance of premium releases. Meanwhile, emerging markets will continue to fuel the industry's expansion, offering new opportunities for developers and publishers willing to adapt to diverse regional preferences and consumption habits.