Overview
- PC is projected to grow at a 6.6% CAGR versus 4.4% for console, with the combined PC/console market rising from $88.3 billion in 2025 to $103.7 billion by 2028.
- The PC player base is expected to top one billion by 2028, driven by expansion across East Asia, with scale in China and higher ARPU in Japan and South Korea.
- Pricing dynamics are shifting toward mid-priced releases, with $30–$50 emerging as the fastest-growing premium tier and sub-$30 PC new releases up 156% year over year.
- Console revenue remains tied to hardware cycles and blockbuster launches as 2025 premium sales rose 12%, microtransactions dipped slightly, subscriptions grew modestly, and day-one Game Pass inclusion can depress visible Xbox sales.
- Live-service heavyweights dominated playtime in 2025—Roblox led with a 52% surge—while battle royale engagement dropped 27% year over year.