According to Newzoo’s upcoming Global Games Market Report, the worldwide video‑game sector is on track to expand by 6.1 percent in 2026, reaching an estimated total value of $213.9 billion. More than half of that consumer spend is expected to come from two powerhouses—China and the United States—underscoring the continued dominance of these markets in shaping industry trends. The full report, slated for release on September 10, breaks down the forecast across platforms, business models, and regional dynamics. Console hardware and software sales are predicted to represent roughly 22 percent of the total market, translating to $46.9 billion in revenue and marking a 5.1 percent increase over the previous year.
A key driver behind this uplift is the highly anticipated November debut of Rockstar Games’ flagship title, Grand Theft Auto VI. Newzoo estimates that the game will push full‑game spending up by 17.5 percent, a surge the firm describes as the strongest growth among all business models in the sector. Mobile gaming remains the largest segment, projected to capture 57 percent of global spend—about $121.1 billion.
This growth of 6.8 percent year‑on‑year is fueled by two main forces: higher average spend per player and the rapid expansion of direct‑to‑consumer (D2C) distribution channels. A recent survey conducted by FastSpring and Omdia revealed that 96 percent of game studios either already run or plan to launch their own D2C web stores. Developers cite improved brand visibility, stronger customer loyalty, and richer access to first‑party data as the primary incentives for moving away from traditional marketplace intermediaries.
In contrast, the PC platform is expected to hold the smallest slice of the market, accounting for 21 percent or $45.9 billion. While still growing—at an estimated 5.3 percent year‑over‑year—PC revenue is set to decelerate compared with the 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) Newzoo had projected for 2025.
The slowdown reflects a maturing ecosystem where growth is increasingly driven by geographic diversification rather than sheer volume. Newzoo anticipates that PC adoption will rise broadly across Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East‑Africa (MEA) regions, delivering a more evenly spread player base.
When it comes to monetisation, premium and mid‑priced titles are expected to continue sustaining full‑game revenue streams. At the same time, microtransactions—small in‑game purchases that have become a staple of modern games—are forecast to reclaim their status as the leading business model by revenue. This shift suggests that while blockbuster releases will still command significant spending, the cumulative impact of countless smaller purchases across a wide array of titles will dominate the financial landscape. Player‑base growth is projected to moderate in the coming years.
In 2026, the total number of gamers worldwide is estimated at 4.07 billion, representing a 4.4 percent increase over the previous year. However, the compound annual growth rate from 2026 through 2029 is expected to settle at 3.2 percent, indicating a gradual tapering of new‑player acquisition. Newzoo notes that future expansion will rely more heavily on retaining and monetising existing users rather than on adding fresh participants to the ecosystem. Emerging markets continue to be the engine of growth, with the Asia‑Pacific region retaining its position as the largest contributor to overall revenue.
The Middle East and Africa are expanding at the fastest pace, reflecting rising internet penetration and increasing disposable income in those areas. Mobile gaming, in particular, is set to dominate player numbers: Newzoo projects 3.10 billion mobile gamers in 2026, which would represent roughly 84 percent of the total gaming population. PC gamers are expected to number around 977 million (about 26 percent), while console enthusiasts will reach approximately 651 million players, or 18 percent of the global audience. Penetration rates—defined as the proportion of the online population that engages in gaming—are projected to edge up slightly from 61.5 percent to 62 percent in 2026.
This modest rise highlights the limited headroom for expanding the base through deeper market penetration; instead, growth will be driven by the overall online population expanding by an estimated 3.5 percent to reach 5.97 billion individuals. In summary, Newzoo’s outlook paints a picture of a maturing yet still vibrant gaming market. While the total revenue is set to climb to just under $214 billion, the composition of that spend is evolving: mobile remains king, consoles rebound thanks to marquee releases like Grand Theft Auto VI, and microtransaction models regain prominence. Regional growth is shifting toward emerging economies, and the industry’s future success will hinge on how effectively companies can keep existing players engaged and monetize their ongoing activity.