UK Gamers’ Spend on Streaming and Game Culture: 2026

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The UK video games market reached a record valuation of £8.76 billion in 2025, representing a 7.4% year-on-year growth across software, hardware, and game culture.
02
Consumer spending on game culture in the UK surged 42% year-on-year to £566 million in 2025, up from £397 million in 2024.
03
Spending on toys and merchandise within the game culture sector grew by 43% to reach £333 million in 2025.
04
Game-related film, TV, and soundtrack revenue rose 70% to £159 million in 2025, bolstered by the Minecraft Movie earning £56.8 million at the UK box office.
05
Spending on streaming, video content, and game donations increased by 8.3% to £66 million in 2025.
06
The events-and-venues category experienced a 39% decline in consumer spending, falling from £9 million in 2024 to £5.6 million in 2025.

Summary

The UK video games market reached a record valuation of £8.76 billion in 2025, reflecting a 7.4% year-on-year growth across software, hardware, and broader game culture. A significant driver of this expansion is the rising consumer interest in game-related entertainment, with total spending on game culture—encompassing streaming, merchandise, and media—surging by 42% to reach £566 million.

Data from the UK games industry trade body, Ukie, highlights specific areas of robust growth. Consumer expenditure on toys and merchandise rose by 43% to £333 million, while revenue from game-related film, television, and soundtracks increased by 70% to £159 million, bolstered by the commercial success of the Minecraft Movie. Additionally, spending on streaming, donations, and digital video content grew by 8.3%, totaling £66 million.

Conversely, the physical events and venues sector experienced a notable downturn, with spending falling 39% to £5.6 million in 2025. This decline follows the closure of several prominent physical gaming festivals and a perceived reduction in gaming presence at major industry events. Despite these localized challenges, the overall economic outlook for the sector remains positive, supported by government initiatives such as a £30 million funding package aimed at fostering job creation and economic growth within the UK’s creative industries. London continues to serve as a major global hub for game development, trailing only Los Angeles and San Francisco in international prominence.