Newzoo’s Jan–Nov 2025 data points to a US$197 billion games market, with growth sustained by deeper engagement.
The global games market is expected to reach US$197 billion in 2025, up 7.5% year on year, according to data from Newzoo’s Global Games Market Report and Forecasts (November 2025). The revised outlook is driven primarily by stronger-than-expected performance on PC and mobile, with console growth supported by Nintendo’s Switch 2 launch and a crowded release calendar.
Mobile gaming is forecast to generate US$108 billion (+7.7% YoY), underpinned by new hits and evergreen titles, while console is expected to reach US$45 billion (+4.2% YoY). PC is projected to generate US$43 billion (+10.4% YoY), with premium releases outperforming last year’s top performers.
Michiel Buijsman, Principal Market Analyst, said: “The 2025 outcome reflects players spending more deeply within games and ecosystems they already value, rather than growth being driven by a sudden expansion of the player base.”
Newzoo’s Game Performance Monitor tracked the top PC releases by revenue across six Western markets (USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) from January to November 2025, finding that premium titles drove growth and that PC remained relatively open to AA studios and new IP.
On console, the top 10 revenue rankings were dominated by established AAA franchises, with sports titles accounting for half the list and Electronic Arts placing four titles in the top 10.
Engagement trends pointed to continued dominance by live-service titles across PC and console monthly active users (MAUs), while only one 2025 release entered the top 10 MAU rankings through a free-to-play extension that expanded reach post-launch.
Newzoo’s analysts also highlighted how major 2025 headlines aligned with market behaviour. Rockstar’s delay of Grand Theft Auto VI into 2026 was characterised as a shift in the timing of spending rather than a reduction in demand, while Grand Theft Auto V remained a top 10 title by MAU.
The Switch 2’s early performance suggested that select third-party titles captured meaningful launch-window revenue and engagement on the eShop.
Meanwhile, independent and AA titles such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Hollow Knight: Silksong saw sustained attention and long-tail engagement, even as overall rankings remained led by franchises and live service platforms.
Manu Rosier, Director of Market Intelligence at Newzoo, said of Western publishing consolidation: “The EA deal reflects a broader structural shift toward ownership concentration and tighter portfolio management.”
Newzoo’s year-to-date view suggests 2025 growth was shaped less by release volume and more by sustained engagement, pricing power, and entrenched ecosystems.
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