Global video game market projected to hit $213.9 billion in 2026, driven by GTA VI

Newzoo’s 2026 Global Games Market Report projects worldwide video game revenue of $213.9 billion across mobile, PC and console platforms. The report attributes a significant portion of this growth to the highly anticipated November release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which leads adventure-genre pre-order revenue well before launch. Sony’s PlayStation division is credited with spearheading a renewed rise in console player counts, whereas the original Nintendo Switch’s sales slump counterbalances most of the net increase from the expanding Switch 2 install base.

The analysis notes that without Grand Theft Auto VI, console revenue would be expected to decline year over year. Established live-service titles such as World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, Overwatch, Roblox and Tencent’s international games showed flat or decreasing revenues in the first half of 2026, with gains concentrated among a few standout titles. Additionally, rising memory prices since January 2025 pose a near-term risk for PC gaming. The report also observes that Grand Theft Auto V remains among the top-selling games 13 years after its launch, and that Gen Alpha is the fastest-growing demographic on PC.