ReportCESA – Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association
CESA Game Industry Report 2025
15 Dec 20254 pages~5 min full read
Global game content revenue reached 31.042 trillion yen in 2024, representing a 5.0% year-on-year increase.
See it on page 2Mobile gaming remains the dominant sector, generating 18.433 trillion yen—roughly 60% of total global sales—with a 6.0% annual growth rate.
See it on page 2PC gaming has experienced significant momentum, expanding 59.7% over the last four years to overtake console market share.
See it on page 2Console revenue saw a modest contraction in 2024, though the Japanese market anticipates a rebound following the expected launch of the Switch 2.
See it on page 2The Japanese gaming population experienced a slight decline to 5.475 million users in 2024, driven by a 1.8% drop in mobile users and a 0.7% decrease in console users.
See it on page 3The Japanese gaming ecosystem supports approximately 200,000 workers, with 58,000 to 83,000 employed directly by core developers, publishers, and hardware manufacturers.
See it on page 3The 2025 CESA Game Industry Report presents a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the video‑game sector, emphasizing three strategic themes: the impact of artificial‑intelligence technologies on development, the latest dynamics of the global market, and emerging regulatory issues. By expanding data coverage to include China, Australia, major Western economies, India and the MENA region, the analysis offers a multidimensional view of both domestic and international trends.
Global game‑content revenue reached 31.042 trillion yen in 2024, marking a 5.0 % year‑on‑year increase. Mobile games accounted for 18.433 trillion yen, roughly 60 % of total sales, and grew 6.0 % versus the prior year. PC titles posted the strongest platform growth over the past four years, expanding 59.7 % and overtaking console share, while console revenue showed modest contraction. In Japan, the total gaming population stood at 5.475 million in 2024, a slight decline from 5.553 million; mobile users fell 1.8 %, PC users rose 0.5 %, and console users decreased 0.7 %, with expectations of a rebound following the anticipated Switch 2 launch.
Employment estimates indicate approximately 200 000 individuals work across the Japanese gaming ecosystem. Core developers, publishers and hardware manufacturers employ between 58 000 and 83 000 people, while ancillary sectors—such as visual production, middleware, peripherals, retail and media—constitute the remainder of the workforce.
The findings derive from CESA’s own surveys, expert interviews and user studies conducted in China and Australia, supplemented by industry‑wide data sources and event reports (Tokyo Game Show, Japan Game Awards, CEDEC). The methodology blends desk research with primary fieldwork to deliver a layered, data‑rich portrait of the industry’s structure, growth drivers and regulatory landscape.
