2025 U.S. Consumer Spending on Video Games: Second-Highest on Record

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
Total U.S. consumer spending on video games reached $60.8 billion in 2025, marking the second-highest annual total on record and a 1.4% increase over 2024.
02
Spending on video game content, which includes digital/physical games, DLC, and subscriptions, totaled $52.4 billion, bolstered by a 20% surge in subscription service revenue.
03
Hardware and console sales grew 9% to $5.4 billion in 2025, while accessory sales declined 7% to $2.9 billion.
04
Mobile gaming remains the dominant platform, with 82% of players aged 8 and older using mobile devices and generating $26.7 billion in consumer spending.
05
The top-grossing console and PC game of 2025 was Battlefield 6, while the top-grossing mobile title was MONOPOLY GO!.
06
The 2025 total spending figure of $60.8 billion remains slightly below the all-time record of $61.7 billion set in 2021.

Summary

Total consumer spending on video games in the United States reached $60.8 billion in 2025, marking the second-highest annual total on record. This figure represents a 1.4% increase over 2024, trailing only the 2021 peak of $61.7 billion. The data, compiled by the Entertainment Software Association in collaboration with Circana and Sensor Tower, underscores the industry's role as a significant and sustained growth engine for the U.S. economy.

The spending breakdown reveals that content—encompassing physical and digital full-game sales, downloadable content, microtransactions, and subscription services—accounted for $52.4 billion of the total. Subscription services were a primary driver of this growth, experiencing a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, hardware sales contributed $5.4 billion, reflecting a 9% year-over-year rise, while spending on accessories totaled $2.9 billion, a 7% decline from 2024.

Mobile gaming remains the dominant platform, with 82% of players aged eight and older engaging with mobile content. This segment generated $26.7 billion in 2025, bolstered by effective live operations and hybrid monetization strategies. The findings highlight a highly engaged consumer base that continues to diversify its play across console, PC, cloud, and mobile environments. By analyzing market share and consumer behavior through predictive analytics and industry-wide data sets, the research confirms that video games remain the most popular form of entertainment in the United States, characterized by evolving service models and widespread platform adoption.