Global Gaming Market Set to Reach $197 Billion in 2025

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The global gaming market is set to reach a new record in 2025, with total revenue expected to hit $197 billion. This updated forecast comes from industry research firm Newzoo, which now predicts a 7.5 percent increase compared to last year. The figure is much higher than earlier estimates of $188.8 billion. This growth is not coming from more people playing games, as the global player count remains steady at around 3.6 billion. Instead, the rise is driven by players spending more money through higher prices, in-game purchases, and subscription services.

Mobile gaming continues to lead the market by a wide margin, which is expected to generate $108 billion, making up 55 percent of all game revenue. Growth in this space comes from long-running mobile hits and the continued success of games built around frequent in-game purchases. While some players criticize the quality and fairness of these systems, mobile games remain easy to access and reach players worldwide, which keeps them at the center of industry growth.

PC gaming stands out as the fastest-growing part of the market in 2025. Revenue is expected to rise by 10.4 percent to $43 billion, bringing it close to console gaming, which sits at $45 billion. This growth is linked to a strong lineup of big PC releases that performed better than last year’s titles. At the same time, the gap between platforms is shrinking, as companies like Sony and Microsoft release more of their games on PC and push deeper ties between Windows and Xbox services.

Console gaming is growing more slowly, with a 4.2 percent increase, but it still received a boost from the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 in June 2025. New hardware, along with higher prices for major games and popular releases like Mario Kart World, helped keep console sales strong. However, rising costs are starting to affect players, especially after price increases for services such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which climbed from $20 to $30 per month. These changes are forcing many players to be more careful about how they spend their money.

Overall, the jump to a $197 billion market shows how publishers are changing their approach. According to Newzoo analyst Michiel Buijsman, growth now comes from players spending more within the platforms they already use. With live service games, higher hardware prices, and stronger premium sales on PC, the industry has found new ways to earn more from the same audience as it heads into 2026.