PC/Console Gaming Insights

The 2025 PC/Console Gaming Index provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the gaming industry, focusing on market performance, consumer behavior, and advertising strategies. The primary thesis centers on the continued resilience and growth of the PC and console sectors, which have already surpassed one billion downloads within the current year. The analysis highlights a clear consumer preference for high-stakes, action-oriented gaming experiences over casual titles, with Action, Shooter, and RPG genres leading the market in total download volume.

Key findings underscore the continued dominance of the Steam platform, which recorded 409 million downloads and a 15% year-to-date increase in premium game revenue. Competitive dynamics among major publishers reveal divergent strategies: Electronic Arts leads in total downloads with 82.8 million, driven by sports and intellectual property, while Microsoft follows with 75.4 million, anchored by major franchises such as Call of Duty and Minecraft. Advertising data further illustrates significant investment disparities, with Fortnite leading the industry with $17.8 million in ad spend, nearly doubling the budget of the second-highest spender, Roblox.

The report utilizes proprietary data to map cross-platform player behavior, noting that specific segments, such as Call of Duty players, exhibit high engagement with sports titles like Madden NFL 25. By examining these trends, the analysis offers a detailed look at the intersection of digital advertising efficacy and player retention. This overview serves as a strategic resource for industry stakeholders, providing a granular look at the genres, platforms, and marketing tactics currently defining the global PC and console gaming landscape.