According to Newzoo, the global games market is projected to generate $213.9 billion by 2026, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 6.1%

According to Newzoo, the global gaming sector is expected to see a 6.1% increase, reaching a total of $213.9 billion, with China and the United States making up more than half of consumer spending.

The details are provided by the company's Global Games Market Report, slated for release on September 10.

The revenue from consoles is predicted to represent 22% of the market, amounting to $46.9 billion, marking a 5.1% growth. The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 in November is forecasted to drive full-game spending up to 17.5%, noted as "strongest growth of any business model" by Newzoo.

Mobile gaming is predicted to dominate with a 57% platform share, totaling $121.1 billion, a 6.8% year-over-year rise, fueled by increased player expenditure and the expansion of direct-to-consumer (D2C) services.

A study by FastSpring and Omdia found that 96% of game studios have or will have a D2C online store, benefiting from heightened brand awareness, enhanced player loyalty, and optimized access to consumer data.

The PC sector is anticipated to hold a 21% market share, worth $45.9 billion, with growth anticipated at 5.3% yearly, a decrease from its projected 12% annual growth rate by 2025.

Higher-priced titles are expected to sustain full-game profits, while microtransactions are likely to resume as the dominant business model. The PC market's expansion is projected to be "geographically broad," with the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa regions leading growth.

The increase in players is expected to decelerate to a 3.2% compound annual growth rate through 2029, by which the player count globally is expected to reach 4.07 billion.

Newzoo highlights that market development will increasingly hinge on sustaining and monetizing the current player base rather than sourcing new users.

Growth is primarily occurring in emerging regions, with Asia-Pacific as the largest market and the Middle East and Africa exhibiting the fastest expansion.

By 2026, the number of mobile gamers is projected to reach 3.10 billion, equating to 84% of all players; PC gaming is expected to encompass 977 million users (26%), and console gaming aims to cover 651 million (18%).

Player penetration is expected to rise modestly from 61.5% to 62% by 2026, reflecting a 3.5% boost in the online population, reaching 5.97 billion, rather than deepening engagement through existing channels.