The Download – September 2026
The global games market hits $213.9bn in 2026, according to new research
Welcome back to the Download, the monthly newsletter from Moore Kingston Smith’s video game team.
We had a productive time at gamescom a couple of weeks ago. Our team went to Cologne to meet clients, talk to the industry, and participate in a video game gathering which drew nearly 400,000 visitors to western Germany.
And while we were there, one of the figures that defines the video game industry was announced on the show floor.
Global games market valued at $213.9bn, according to Newzoo
Video game software revenues are forecast to reach a record high of $213.9bn in 2026, according to market research firm Newzoo.
Its Global Games Market report has forecast a 6.1% increase in global software revenue compared to 2025. It also estimates that player numbers will increase from 3.55bn to 3.7bn, a new high for the industry.
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to be a major driver of growth. It is expected to lift full game spending on console by 17.5% in 2026. This will almost single-handedly drive a 5.1% increase in console revenue to $46.9bn.
However, console growth remains sluggish compared to its main rivals. PC revenue is set to grow by 5.3% to $45.9bn, with fast growth in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East pushing revenue up. Mobile is set to grow even faster, growing 6.8% to reach $121.1bn as Chinese publishers turn their home-grown dominance into market share abroad.
The global video game market looks remarkably healthy in 2026. But Newzoo sounds one note of caution.
Player penetration – i.e. the number of people online who play video games – only grew from 61.5% to 62%. This means that game businesses will need to build deeper relationships with the existing audience to succeed.
Newzoo’s Global Games Market report is published in full on 10th September. Pre-register for it here.
Games industry news in brief
Netflix’s exclusive Grand Theft Auto VI showcase attracts 31.7 million views
Netflix scored 31.7m views on its exclusive extended look showcase of Rockstar’s forthcoming crime-caper Grand Theft Auto VI in just four days, according to Variety. The showcase topped Netflix’s charts in 87 of the 93 countries it tracks.
Gamescom’s most wishlisted title wasn’t a new release, according to Alinea Analytics
The most popular game from gamescom’s Opening Night Live showcase was not a new game release, according to Alinea Analytics. The Witcher 3’s expansion pack Songs of the Past, the first new content for the game in nearly a decade, secured 451,000 wishlists on Steam. The most popular new releases were Wizards of the Coast’s action-adventure Warlock (379,000) and NetEase’s open-world title Ananta (302,000).
Makers Fund raises $250m for its latest games, apps and entertainment investment fund
And in venture capital news, Makers Fund has closed a fourth fund to invest in games, consumer apps, and entertainment and creation platforms. The fund has raised $250m to expand its portfolio of 90 businesses, increasing its total assets under management to $1.5bn.
Keep up with Moore Kingston Smith
The Moore Kingston Smith Media Day is returning to BAFTA on Wednesday 25th November, and our team will be running a session for our video games followers.
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