Newzoo
Newzoo business and news from across the web.
How Gaming Became Much More Mobile Focused - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewThe gaming industry has shifted significantly towards mobile platforms, with mobile devices becoming the primary gaming screen for many. This trend is driven by convenience and the increasing revenue generated by mobile games, which are projected to account for over half of the global games market by 2025. Even traditional genres like puzzle and adventure games are adapting to mobile-first design principles, while titles like Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile highlight the challenges of porting console experiences without proper mobile optimization.
AppCharge: Direct-to-consumer market worth around $17bn todayDirect-to-consumer (DTC) spending in mobile gaming is estimated to be around $17 billion, with a median revenue increase of 15% for companies adopting the model. While many companies are exploring or scaling DTC operations, challenges include player acquisition and making consumers aware of these direct channels. AppCharge's CEO suggests DTC will become the standard for successful game operations, enabling better player relationships and monetization.
The videogame market is as big as ever, with PC leading growth—global games revenue surpassed the $200 billion…The global games market surpassed $200 billion in 2025, driven primarily by PC revenue growth. While console and mobile markets also saw increases, PC's diverse game offerings and microtransaction success led the surge. Despite industry consolidation and layoffs, overall market revenue continues to climb.- MMO Business Roundup: Global games revenue, Sony’s store lawsuit, and Microsoft’s impending ‘bloodbath’This industry roundup covers several key topics: Sony faces a lawsuit over its PlayStation Store "buy now" buttons, global games revenue reached $201.6 billion in 2025 with mobile dominating sales, and Microsoft is reportedly preparing for significant layoffs within its Xbox division.
Newzoo: Global games market made over $200bn in 2025The global games market generated over $200 billion in revenue in 2025, marking a 9.1% year-on-year increase. Mobile gaming accounted for 56% of this revenue, while PC and console gaming each took 22%. China and the United States were the largest markets, contributing over half of the global spending.
Amid all the closures and layoffs, the global games market has apparently passed $200 billion in yearly revenue for the…The global games market has surpassed $200 billion in yearly revenue for the first time, reaching $201.6 billion according to Newzoo, an increase of 9.1% year-on-year. Mobile gaming leads this growth, followed by PC and console gaming, despite widespread industry layoffs and studio closures. This financial success contrasts sharply with the recent difficulties faced by many companies and employees within the sector.
"Nobody's making games for the retired people" – The growing yet underserved market for grey gamersThe video game industry is largely overlooking the growing market of older players, often referred to as 'grey gamers.' Despite an aging global population and increasing numbers of individuals over 40, 50, and 60 playing games, developers are slow to cater to this demographic, who possess disposable income and long-term gaming literacy. Experts suggest a shift in industry mindset is needed to capture this substantial and expanding market, which is currently underserved by game design and marketing efforts.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is 2026's top new release by revenue to date | Newzoo chartsTomodachi Life: Living the Dream topped Newzoo's revenue charts for new releases in 2026 and overall console revenue in April, attributed to Nintendo's install base. New titles like Pragmata and Windrose also saw strong debuts, though displacing established live-service games remains challenging.
PC gamers buy way more games that cost less than $30 at launch compared to PlayStation and Xbox players, analysts say,…PC gamers purchase more games priced under $30 at launch compared to PlayStation and Xbox players, according to analyst firm Newzoo. While the $30-$50 bracket leads across all platforms, the sub-$30 segment thrives on PC, particularly with breakout indie titles. Many of these games launch exclusively on PC and never make it to consoles.
Nordic Game Spring Program Schedule RevealedNordic Game has released the program schedule for its upcoming Spring 2026 event, taking place from May 26-29 in Malmö. The schedule features a variety of sessions and speakers covering relevant industry topics, including artist partnerships, game launch strategies, industry trends, emotional well-being for developers, and creative consensus.
The Global Gaming Industry Hit $188.8 Billion in 2025The global gaming industry reached a record $188.8 billion in revenue in 2025, a 3.4% year-over-year increase, with mobile gaming accounting for 55% of the total market. Console gaming saw the strongest growth at 5.5%, partly driven by the Nintendo Switch 2 launch. Factors like in-game purchases, diverse game offerings, and the convergence of platforms are fueling this growth, with projections indicating the market will reach $206.5 billion by 2028.
Why Xbox took Call of Duty out of Game PassXbox has announced that Call of Duty titles will now be added to Game Pass Ultimate approximately one year after launch, rather than at launch. Data from Newzoo suggests that while Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 saw a temporary increase in Xbox engagement, it did not translate to sustained sales, indicating that Game Pass may be cannibalizing premium purchases.
PC gaming is growing, but it isn't because of Dota 2 and FortnitePC gaming is projected to surpass console revenue by 2028, driven by a growing diversity of titles beyond the top 20. While major titles like Dota 2 and World of Warcraft remain significant, a larger portion of revenue is now generated by a long tail of indie and double-A games, particularly RPGs and adventure titles. This trend indicates a shift in player spending and engagement towards a broader range of games on PC.
Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 help show "mid-price is the new sweet spot" for games, analysts…Analysts at Newzoo identify the $30-$50 price range as the new sweet spot for PC and console games, citing titles like Arc Raiders and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as examples of successful mid-priced releases. This trend emerges as the overall cost of gaming increases, with players seeking better value between indie and premium $70 titles.
"Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Skyrim" help make PC gaming the only platform where over half of revenue is from "games outside the top 20," report saysA Newzoo report indicates that PC gaming is the only platform where over half of revenue, specifically 56% in Western markets for 2025, comes from games outside the top 20, showing increasing diversity and long-tail popularity. While PlayStation and Xbox also see revenue from games outside the top 20, PC demonstrates the greatest growth in this area, suggesting a clearer path to relevance and revenue for less mainstream titles.
Analysts say PC gaming is now the one platform where more than 50% of revenue comes from games outside the top 20PC gaming revenue is increasingly driven by titles outside the top 20, with these games accounting for 56% of revenue in Western markets in 2025, a significant increase from previous years. Playtime for these less popular titles also grew substantially, while playtime for top-tier games remained flat or declined, indicating a shift in player engagement towards a broader range of games on the platform.- Business and FinanceNewzoo reports that over half of PC gaming revenue is generated by titles outside the top 20 most popular games. Separately, the UK government has initiated the rollout of a £30 million Games Growth Package aimed at fostering the industry.
Newzoo: More than half of PC revenue comes from games outside the Top 20Newzoo data indicates that games outside the Top 20 are increasingly significant in the PC market, capturing 56% of revenue and 45% of playtime by 2025. While console spending remains concentrated on top titles, lower-ranked games are also seeing growth on platforms like PlayStation. Genres like action RPGs and survival games are performing well, with titles such as Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077 contributing to this trend.
Analysts say Slay the Spire 2 is the best-performing deckbuilder of all time—and the competition isn't closeAnalysts from Newzoo report that Slay the Spire 2 has achieved the best launch performance for any deckbuilder game on record, significantly surpassing titles like Balatro and its predecessor. The game sold 3 million copies in its first week of early access on Steam, generating approximately $75 million in gross revenue before platform cuts.- Roblox and Minecraft players are less likely to play traditional AAA video gamesNewzoo analyst Ben Porter notes that players of Roblox and Minecraft show minimal overlap with audiences for traditional AAA titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Ghost of Ytei. This suggests distinct player bases within the gaming landscape.