ReportNewzoo
Global Games Market Report: August 2023
1 Jan 202352 pages~59 min full read
The global games market is projected to reach $187.7 billion in 2023, reflecting a 2.6% year-on-year growth and a total player base of 3.38 billion.
See it on page 17Console gaming is the primary driver of 2023 market expansion, rebounding from previous development delays to help push total industry revenues toward a forecasted $212.4 billion by 2026.
See it on page 17Studios are increasingly adopting live-service monetization and generative AI to combat rising production costs and longer development cycles, despite ongoing legal and ethical uncertainties surrounding IP.
See it on page 28Regional growth is uneven, with strong Western console demand contrasting with slower performance in the Asia-Pacific region due to regulatory challenges in China.
See it on page 22The mobile gaming sector faces significant headwinds in user acquisition and monetization as evolving privacy policies negatively impact the performance of genres like RPGs.
See it on page 45The industry is experiencing a structural shift toward digital-first engagement, characterized by the decline of physical media and the rise of transmedia and influencer-led development strategies.
See it on page 32Player preferences are shifting away from the battle royale genre, while hardware diversification is accelerating through the emergence of new, complementary handheld devices.
See it on page 30The global games market is entering a period of recovery in 2023, characterized by a projected revenue of $187.7 billion and a total player base of 3.38 billion. This 2.6% year-on-year growth signals a stabilization following the post-pandemic market correction of 2022. While mobile gaming remains the largest revenue segment, console gaming serves as the primary catalyst for this year’s expansion, rebounding significantly from previous development delays. Looking toward 2026, the industry is expected to maintain this upward trajectory, with total revenues forecasted to reach $212.4 billion.
Regional performance remains uneven, as strong console demand in Western markets contrasts with slower growth in the Asia-Pacific region, where regulatory challenges in China continue to dampen momentum. To mitigate rising production costs and extended development cycles, studios are increasingly prioritizing live-service monetization models and integrating generative AI into their workflows. While these technologies offer potential for streamlined asset creation and prototyping, their long-term viability is complicated by unresolved legal and ethical concerns regarding copyright and intellectual property.
The industry is undergoing a structural shift toward digital-first engagement, evidenced by the continued decline of physical media and the rise of transmedia strategies and influencer-led development. Hardware diversification is also accelerating, with the emergence of complementary handheld devices expanding the reach of traditional platforms. Despite these advancements, specific genres are experiencing shifting player preferences; while adventure and shooter titles remain dominant, the battle royale genre is losing traction. Furthermore, the mobile sector faces persistent headwinds in monetization and user acquisition, largely driven by evolving privacy policies that have impacted the performance of previously lucrative genres like RPGs.
