In two years, PC games will surpass console games in revenue — analysis
The PC gaming segment will experience significant growth in the coming years, both in terms of revenue and audience. This and much more is discussed in the latest report by the analytics company Newzoo.
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In this comprehensive document (80 pages), analysts detailed the situation not only in the PC segment but also in console gaming. Here are some of their findings.
- Newzoo estimates that between 2025 and 2028, the revenue from the PC segment will grow by an average of 6.6% annually. Meanwhile, the console segment revenue is expected to increase slightly slower, at 4.4% annually.
- As a result, by 2028, the combined revenue from console and PC games will surpass $103.7 billion, with slightly more than half of this figure stemming from PC games for the first time in 13 years. In comparison, at the end of 2025, both segments combined generated "only" $88.3 billion.
- Currently, the main source of income for the PC segment is microtransactions, which generated 48% of its revenue in 2025. In contrast, half of the console segment's revenue came from game sales.
- Notably, last year, 20 games were responsible for two-thirds of console revenue in six key markets (the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France).
- It is expected that by the end of 2026, the PC gaming audience will reach 966 million people and will exceed one billion by 2028. China and other Asian countries will significantly contribute to this growth.
- Meanwhile, the console gaming audience is projected to grow from 662 million in 2026 to 688 million in 2028.
- In 2025, gamers spent 1% less time on console and PC games than in 2024. Nearly half of the gaming time (48%) was on PCs, with 34% on PlayStation and 18% on Xbox.
- 54% of the total playtime in 2025 was spent on games older than six years. 33% was on games that were between one and five years old, and 13% was on new releases.
- PC users are increasingly playing less popular titles. If in 2023, 33% of playtime was on games outside the top 20, by 2024, it rose to 36%, and by 2025, it reached 42%. The trend is similar on consoles.
- Roblox, Fortnite, and Call of Duty were the most popular gaming IPs in terms of playtime in 2025.
