ReportNewzoo
Newzoo PC & Console Gaming Report 2024
1 Jan 202446 pages~46 min full read
The market is highly consolidated, with 28 to 34 publishers capturing 80% of monthly active users and just two titles, Fortnite and Roblox, commanding over 60% of total playtime in 2023.
See it on page 27Engagement is dominated by legacy content, as older titles account for over 60% of total hours played, while new releases capture only 8% of playtime.
See it on page 19Premium transactions remain the primary revenue driver, accounting for 56–57% of total spending and outperforming live-service and subscription models.
See it on page 9Global PC and console revenue grew 2.6% to $93.5 billion in 2023, though player growth is flattening with projected CAGRs of only 1.6% for PC and 3% for console through 2026.
See it on page 8Quarterly playtime has declined 26% since Q1 2021, and over half of the top new releases are franchise titles, highlighting the difficulty of establishing fresh IPs.
See it on page 16Multi-platform players, who represent 41% of the total player base and play on two or more platforms, account for 79% of total gaming time.
See it on page 39Emerging markets are expected to outpace established regions with a 4.7% CAGR compared to 0.2%, with cloud gaming serving as a key entry point due to low hardware barriers.
See it on page 40The 2024 Newzoo PC & Console Gaming Report presents a cautiously optimistic outlook for the global market, with 2023 revenues rising 2.6 % to $93.5 bn. Growth is largely driven by PC game sales, while console revenue increased modestly at 1.7 % YoY. Playtime is falling, and player growth is flattening: PC players are projected to grow at 1.6 % CAGR and console players at 3 % through 2026, making it increasingly difficult to expand the player base. Premium transactions dominate spending, accounting for roughly 56–57 % of total spend; live‑service and subscription models still lag behind full‑price titles, underscoring the need for studios to focus on high‑quality releases and robust content pipelines.
Fortnite and Roblox command over 60 % of total playtime in 2023, reinforcing a highly concentrated market where established platforms and annual franchises dominate engagement. Quarterly playtime has fallen 26 % since Q1 2021, with older titles accounting for more than 60 % of hours and new releases only about 8 %. Live‑service pay‑to‑play games capture the majority of new‑title revenue, making it challenging for fresh IPs to gain traction.
Concentration among publishers has tightened further: between 28 and 34 publishers captured 80 % of monthly active users in 2023, a trend that has been tightening since 2021. While the number of titles driving 75–90 % of MAU has remained roughly flat, playtime per user is falling. Over half of the top new releases are franchise titles, and remakes or transmedia adaptations can boost both new and legacy game MAU by 35–60 %.
Multi‑platform play is significant, with nearly half of gamers (47 %) playing on two or more platforms. Multi‑platform players spend 79 % of their time and represent 41 % of the total player base, indicating higher engagement and spend. Emerging markets are projected to outpace established ones with a 4.7 % CAGR versus 0.2 %, and cloud gaming is identified as a key entry point due to high awareness (32 %) and low hardware barriers. Expanding beyond a single platform—especially into mobile or cloud services—offers new revenue routes but requires tailored experiences and messaging for diverse audiences.
