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Entertainment 2026

Gaming Industry Statistics & Market Data

Revenue figures, player demographics, platform market share, esports data, and the trends driving the global gaming industry in 2026.

30 curated statistics with source citations

$200B+

Global Gaming Revenue

3.49B

Global Gamers

49%

Mobile Gaming Share

28.1%

Cloud Gaming Growth

The gaming industry has established itself as the largest entertainment sector globally, with market revenue projected between $200-$260 billion in 2025. With 3.49 billion gamers worldwide and mobile gaming accounting for 49% of total revenue at $92.6 billion, gaming's reach extends far beyond the traditional console audience.

Cloud gaming is growing at 28.1% annually, esports is attracting mainstream sponsorship, and the convergence of gaming with social media, music, and live events is creating entirely new revenue streams and marketing opportunities.

These statistics cover market size, platform breakdowns, player demographics, esports, and the emerging trends that make gaming a critical channel for entertainment marketing.

Market Size & Revenue

Gaming is the largest segment of the global entertainment industry.

$200-$260 billion

Estimated global gaming industry revenue in 2025, varying by source methodology.

Source

2025

$92.6 billion

Mobile gaming revenue in 2025, representing 49% of total gaming market.

Source

2025

$51.5 billion

Console gaming revenue in 2025, representing 27% of the market.

Source

2025

$40.4 billion

PC gaming revenue in 2025, representing 21% of the market.

Source

2025

7.9%

Year-over-year growth in total gaming revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

Gaming industry revenue compared to global box office and music industry combined.

Source

2025

Player Demographics

Who plays video games and how gaming audiences are evolving.

3.49 billion

People worldwide who play video games, approximately 43% of the global population.

Source

2025

48%

Of gamers worldwide are female.

Source

2025

Average age of a gamer in the United States.

Source

2025

65%

Of US adults (ages 18+) who play video games.

Source

2025

7.6 hours

Average weekly gaming time per player globally.

Source

2025

55%

Of gamers who primarily play on mobile devices.

Source

2025

Esports & Competitive Gaming

The business of professional gaming and esports.

$1.87 billion

Global esports market revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

532 million

Esports viewers worldwide in 2025.

Source

2025

$60.8 million

Dota 2 prize pool total through The International tournaments — the largest in esports history.

Source

2025

38%

Of esports revenue comes from sponsorships and advertising.

Source

2025

26%

Of esports revenue comes from media rights deals.

Source

2025

18-34

Core esports audience demographic, with 71% of viewers in this age range.

Source

2025

Cloud Gaming & Emerging Tech

How cloud gaming and new technologies are reshaping the industry.

28.1%

Annual growth rate of the cloud gaming segment.

Source

2025

$8.2 billion

Cloud gaming market revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

200 million

Cloud gaming users worldwide.

Source

2025

$2.4 billion

VR gaming market revenue in 2025.

Source

2025

23%

Of gamers who have tried cloud gaming services (Xbox Cloud, GeForce NOW, etc.).

Source

2025

41%

Of gaming companies investing in AI-driven game development and personalization.

Source

2025

In-Game Spending & Monetization

How gaming companies generate revenue beyond initial sales.

78%

Of total gaming revenue comes from free-to-play games with in-app purchases.

Source

2025

$54.7 billion

Global spending on in-game purchases and microtransactions in 2025.

Source

2025

69%

Of mobile gamers have made at least one in-app purchase.

Source

2025

$19.95

Average monthly spending by gamers who make in-game purchases.

Source

2025

$58.8 billion

Revenue from gaming subscription services (Xbox Game Pass, PS Plus, etc.) in 2025.

Source

2025

4.6%

Average conversion rate from free-to-play players to paying users.

Source

2025

Methodology

Gaming industry statistics are sourced from Newzoo (the leading gaming analytics firm), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Statista, and platform-reported data from console manufacturers and mobile app stores.

Market sizing varies between research firms due to different methodologies (some include hardware, others focus on software and services). Revenue figures represent consumer spending in USD. All data points include sources and years.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is the gaming industry?

The global gaming industry generates between $200-$260 billion in annual revenue, making it larger than the film and music industries combined. It's growing at approximately 7.9% year-over-year.

How many people play video games?

3.49 billion people worldwide play video games — approximately 43% of the global population. 65% of US adults are gamers, and the average gamer is 33 years old. 48% of gamers are female.

What is the biggest gaming platform?

Mobile gaming is the largest platform by revenue at $92.6 billion (49% of total market), followed by console ($51.5B, 27%) and PC ($40.4B, 21%). 55% of gamers primarily play on mobile devices.

How big is the esports market?

Global esports market revenue reached $1.87 billion in 2025, with 532 million viewers worldwide. Sponsorships account for 38% of revenue, media rights 26%. The core audience is ages 18-34.

What is cloud gaming and how fast is it growing?

Cloud gaming allows playing games streamed from remote servers without local hardware. The segment is growing at 28.1% annually, reaching $8.2 billion in revenue with 200 million users.

How much do gamers spend on in-game purchases?

Global in-game spending reached $54.7 billion in 2025. 78% of total gaming revenue comes from free-to-play games with microtransactions. Paying gamers spend an average of $19.95 per month.

Is gaming bigger than movies and music?

Yes, gaming revenue ($200B+) is approximately 3x larger than the global box office and music industry combined. Gaming is the largest entertainment sector in the world by revenue.

Last updated: February 12, 2026

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