Mobile vs PC Gaming Statistics 2026: Revenue, Users, Growth

The gaming industry has reshaped entertainment worldwide, with mobile and PC platforms driving billions in revenue and attracting players across age groups. Mobile gaming’s ubiquity on smartphones contrasts sharply with the dedicated hardware and performance focus of PC gaming. Together, these platforms influence everything from esports leagues to developer investment strategies. Below, we begin an in‑depth look at the latest data that highlights how the battle between mobile and PC gaming is unfolding.

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Here are key statistics you should know at a glance:

• The global games market is projected to reach $205 billion in 2026, up from $188.8 billion in 2025.
• In 2024, mobile gaming revenue hit ~$92.6 billion, capturing nearly 49% of all gaming revenue.
• PC gaming revenue accounted for roughly 23% of total gaming revenue in 2024.
• Approximately 3.6 billion people played games worldwide in 2025.
• Mobile gaming player base exceeded 3.0 billion globally in 2025.
• The global gaming market is forecast to grow at an 8.4% CAGR from 2024 to 2029.
• The U.S. gaming market remains one of the largest national markets in 2025.

Recent Developments

• Mobile gaming continues to lead revenue share globally, expected to expand its footprint in 2026.
• Cloud gaming and digital distribution channels are growing, though still a small percentage of overall revenue.
• Major IP shifts and acquisitions shape market strategy, including consolidation around mobile titles.
• Frequent digital purchases now dominate revenue models, especially in Europe, where 90% of game sales are digital.
• Developer focus remains strong on PC, with 80% planning Windows PC releases versus lower console interest.
• Title delays like GTA VI suggest that hardware price and release timing can significantly impact growth forecasts.
• PC indie storefronts are expanding users, though monetization remains weaker compared to flagship platforms.
• Esports tie‑ins and competitive gaming influence platform investment trends.

Global Gaming Market Growth and Forecast

• The global gaming market was valued at $343.22 billion in 2025, reflecting strong pre-forecast industry momentum.
• Market revenue increased to $386.04 billion in 2026, marking the official start of the long-term growth projection.
• Between 2026 and 2030, the gaming industry is expected to grow at a robust 12.5% CAGR, highlighting sustained expansion.
• By 2030, the global gaming market is projected to reach $618.82 billion, signaling significant revenue upside.
• The market is forecast to add approximately $232.78 billion in new value from 2026 to 2030.
• The steady year-over-year rise shown in the forecast indicates consistent demand across gaming platforms.
• Rapid growth is driven by mobile gaming adoption, expanding online multiplayer ecosystems, and live-service game monetization.
• The strong CAGR suggests gaming remains one of the fastest-growing segments within the global entertainment industry.

Mobile Gaming Revenue Statistics

• Mobile gaming revenue hit ~$92.6 billion in 2024.
• In 2024, mobile held ~49% global market revenue share.
• Projections indicate mobile revenue of around $107 billion in 2026.
• Mobile game downloads reached nearly 50 billion in 2024.
• Average mobile gaming penetration stood at ~54% of total gamers in 2025.
• U.S. mobile gaming accounted for about $33 billion in 2026.
• Forecasts show the mobile gaming market could exceed $329 billion by 2029.
• Average revenue per mobile gamer rose to $16.60 in 2025.

PC Gaming Market Revenue

• PC gaming accounted for approximately 23% of revenue in 2024.
• The global PC gaming market is valued at about $47.9 billion in 2026.
• PC market forecast suggests growth to ~$89.6 billion by 2036.
• PC revenue grew alongside strengthened digital sales and esports content.
• Platforms like Steam continue dominating PC game distribution.
• Free‑to‑play PC titles drive sustained but incremental revenue increases.
• Epic Games Store’s user base grew dramatically, but didn’t yield proportional revenue.
• Windows remains the primary target for ~80% of game developers.

Market Share Breakdown by Platform

• In 2024, mobile held ~49% of total revenues globally, PC ~23%, and consoles ~28%.

• Mobile is expected to increase its share to 56–58% by 2026.
• PC’s share remained smaller but stable in 2025.
• Combined mobile and PC revenue accounts for over 70% of industry income.
• Digital sales dominate, representing roughly 90% of European gaming revenue in 2024.
• The Asia‑Pacific region contributes the largest regional share globally.
• Console growth picks up, but still trails mobile and PC in revenue share.
• Subscription and free‑to‑play models shape revenue allocation across platforms.

Platform Revenue Comparison

• In 2024, mobile gaming revenue reached ~$92.6 billion, dominating global gaming revenues.
• Mobile accounted for 49% of all gaming revenue in 2024, ahead of console and PC revenue shares.
• Console gaming revenue was ~$51.9 billion in 2024, trailing mobile by a significant margin.
• PC gaming held roughly 23% of market revenue in 2024, with digital sales and esports content driving income.
• Mobile revenue is projected to grow to $107 billion by 2026, expanding its lead.
• Console revenue growth remains modest, expected at $53–$55 billion by 2026.
• Digital distribution continues to reshape revenue, with ~95% of game sales now digital globally.
• Emerging segments like cloud and VR are small but gaining traction, diversifying future revenue streams.

Mobile Gamers Population Statistics

• There are 3.0 billion active mobile gamers worldwide as of 2025.
• Mobile gamer numbers are projected to rise to ~3.5 billion by the end of 2025.
• Mobile players account for ~83–85% of all gamers globally.
• In some emerging markets, daily mobile gaming time exceeds 5+ hours per day.
• The global mobile gamer base has expanded by hundreds of millions over the past few years.
• Female participation among mobile gamers approaches ~53% in some markets.
• Young adults (18–34) comprise the majority of the mobile gaming demographic.
• Mobile penetration remains highest in Asia‑Pacific and Latin America compared with other regions.

Regional Gaming Markets and Revenue Statistics

• North America generated $52.7 billion in gaming revenue in 2025, marking a 4.2% increase.​
• Asia-Pacific led with $87.6 billion in gaming revenue in 2025, representing about 47% of the global market.​
• North America and Asia-Pacific together accounted for roughly 75% of the $188.8 billion global gaming revenue in 2025.​
• The U.S. gaming market reached approximately $49.6 billion in revenue in 2025.​
• China contributed $49.8 billion to gaming revenue in 2025, solidifying its position as a top market.​
• India had 488 million online gamers in 2024, projected to reach 517 million by 2025.​
• Asia-Pacific hosted over 1.5 billion gamers in 2025, the largest regional audience worldwide.​
• Europe generated $33.1 billion in gaming revenue in 2025, growing 3.6% year-over-year.​
• Latin America‘s gaming market hit $8.3 billion in 2025, with a strong 6.4% growth rate.​
• Middle East and Africa saw $7.1 billion in gaming revenue in 2025, expanding at 7.5%.​

Number of PC Gamers

• There are approximately 1.86 billion PC gamers worldwide in 2025, reflecting steady growth from 1.83 billion in 2023.​
• Steam hit a record 41.7 million concurrent users in October 2025, surpassing the prior 40.3 million peak in March.​
• PC gaming revenue reached $43 billion in 2025, growing 10.4% year-over-year, outpacing consoles’ 4.2% rise to $45 billion.​
• Asia-Pacific holds 46.7% of global PC gaming revenue in 2025, driven by massive populations in China and India.
• Epic Games Store boasts 295 million registered users and 67.2 million monthly active users as of late 2024.​
• Gaming PC hardware market valued at $70.85 billion in 2025, dominating over software’s $33.47 billion.
• Free-to-play PC games generated $25.22 billion in 2024, with low-end GaaS attracting 1.8 billion gamers.​
• PC gamers grew 1.6% yearly to 1.86 billion in 2024, fueled by premium GaaS at 381 million players.​
• 64% of game developers prefer PC titles, ahead of PS5 at 33% and Xbox at 30%.​

Gamers by Platform and Gender Distribution

• Mobile gaming shows the highest overall participation, with 91% of male gamers and an even higher 94% of female gamers actively playing games on mobile devices.
• Female gamers slightly outperform male gamers on mobile, making mobile gaming the most gender-balanced and inclusive platform in the gaming ecosystem.
• Console gaming has lower engagement compared to mobile, with 69% of male gamers and 59% of female gamers playing games on consoles.
• Male gamers dominate console gaming, leading female participation by 10 percentage points (69% vs 59%).
• PC gaming remains a strong platform, attracting 81% of male gamers and 75% of female gamers.
• The gender gap in PC gaming is narrower than on consoles, with only a 6-point difference between male and female gamers.
• Across all platforms, male gamers show consistently high engagement, especially on mobile (91%) and PC (81%).
• Female gamers are most active on mobile devices, where participation peaks at 94%, the highest figure across all platform-gender combinations.
• Mobile gaming clearly dominates gaming habits, outperforming console and PC gaming for both genders.
• Console gaming shows the lowest adoption among female gamers, at just 59%, highlighting a clear platform preference gap.

Esports and Competitive Gaming Growth

• The global esports market is expected to reach ~$4.5 billion by 2026, with an estimated 21.1% CAGR through 2036.
• Mobile esports is growing fastest, at an expected ~27.6% annual growth rate over the next decade.
• Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe remain the largest esports revenue regions.
• Sponsorships and advertising are major revenue drivers in esports, projected to rise ~45% CAGR by 2036.
• Competitive PC titles still dominate overall prize pools and viewer engagement.
• Prize pools and event attendance continue to climb, with marquee tournaments adding millions in live viewers.
• Esports audiences globally are in the hundreds of millions, expanding the pipeline for brand partnerships.
• Mobile esports makes headway in emerging markets due to affordable hardware and strong network effects.

Gaming Monetization Models and Revenue Streams

• In 2025, mobile games generated $81.75 billion from in-app purchases (IAPs).
• PC gaming microtransactions reached $24.4 billion in 2024, comprising 58% of total PC gaming revenue.
• The subscription-based gaming market is valued at $27.67 billion in 2025, growing at 10.83% CAGR.​
• Rewarded video ads dominate mobile gaming, with over 70% player preference and 80%+ completion rates.​
• The global gaming market hit $197 billion in 2025, with mobile at $108 billion (55% share).
• Xbox Game Pass generated nearly $5 billion in 2025, projected to reach $5.5 billion.​
• Hybrid-casual mobile games saw IAP revenue surge 20% to $4.2 billion in 2025.​
• PC gaming totaled $43 billion in 2025 revenue, up 10.4% year-over-year.​
• Mid-core mobile games led IAP revenue with $44.68 billion in 2025.

Average Gaming Session Length by Age Group

• Children aged 4–12 years typically play for 45–60 minutes per session, with a high engagement frequency of 5.1 gaming sessions per day.
• Teen gamers (13–17 years) record the longest individual play sessions, averaging 2–4 hours per session, primarily on console and PC platforms.
• Young adults aged 18–29 years spend an average of 10.8 hours per week gaming, indicating sustained but more structured gaming habits.
• Within the 18–29 age group, a highly engaged segment exists, where 8% of gamers exceed 20 hours of gameplay per day, highlighting intense usage patterns.
• Older gamers aged 50+ years typically limit gameplay to under 60 minutes per session, with most activity focused on cognitive and casual games.
• Overall, gaming behavior shifts from frequent short sessions in childhood to long immersive sessions during teenage years, followed by moderate weekly play in adulthood.
• The data illustrate a clear age-based decline in session length beyond early adulthood, reflecting changing lifestyle priorities and gaming preferences.

In‑App Purchases and Revenue

• IAP revenue in mobile gaming grew ~4% in 2024, while time spent grew ~8%.
• Sensor Tower reports IAP revenue at $82+ billion in 2024 and growing particularly on iOS.
• BCG estimates mobile in‑app purchases near ~$130 billion in 2025, nearly half of total gaming revenue.
• RPG and mid‑core strategy genres deliver higher IAP revenue per paying user vs casual titles.
• Around 3–4% of mobile players make purchases, yet they contribute the majority of spend.
• IAP patterns show the strongest growth in Western and Latin American markets.
• On PC, seasonal content passes and expansions (DLC) supplement core sales for revenue.
• Leveraging events and time‑limited offers boosts IAP revenue during key quarters.

Advertising Revenue and Player Preferences

• Global in-game ad market valued at $119.31 billion in 2025, projected to reach $197.99 billion by 2030 at 10.66% CAGR.​
• Rewarded ads’ share in mobile game ad revenue reached 17.7% in 2025, up 53.9% year-over-year.​
• 90% of gaming apps use rewarded video ads as the hottest revenue generator.​
• 76% of US mobile gamers prefer opt-in rewarded ads over mandatory formats.​
• 78% of mobile gamers willingly watch rewarded video ads for in-game benefits.​
• 85% of mobile game players enjoy in-game rewards from rewarded ads.​
• 9 in 10 players actively interact with rewarded ads to earn rewards.​
• Rewarded video ads achieve 95%+ completion rates, far exceeding traditional ads’ 60-70%.​
• 71% of video game players prefer in-game video ads over in-app purchases.​
• Gaming apps using rewarded ads see 71% higher ROAS than forced formats.​

Mobile Gaming Trends and Industry Direction

• Mobile gaming revenue is projected to reach $107 billion in 2026, capturing 52% of global gaming revenue.
• Asia-Pacific generates 46% of global gaming revenue, dominating mobile gaming with massive user bases.​
• Smartphones hold 72% market share in mobile gaming due to affordability and advanced processors.​
• 5G enables 1ms latency and supports 1 million devices per km² for multiplayer gaming.​
• Hybrid monetization boosts ARPU by 28% in hyper-casual games over ad-only models.​
• AI personalization increases player retention by up to 30% through tailored experiences.​
• Mobile esports contributes to the $107 billion sector with 11.4% CAGR in Asia-Pacific.​
• Day-1 retention in mobile games averages 25-40%, enhanced by real-time analytics.​
• Over 2 billion active mobile gamers worldwide drive industry growth in 2026.​
• Downloads expected to decline 8% YoY as developers focus on monetizing existing titles.​

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Mobile and PC gaming continue evolving as complementary pillars of the global games industry. Mobile gaming drives the largest revenue share and player engagement trends, fueled by sophisticated monetization strategies and ever‑expanding global audiences. PC gaming remains strong in competitive titles and high‑end experiences, while esports and hybrid revenue streams shape multimedia entertainment‘s future. Across both platforms, engagement patterns, monetization innovations, and regional market dynamics will define growth paths in the next decade.