PC Gaming Poised to Surpass Consoles by 2028: A Shifting Landscape
The gaming world is on the cusp of a significant shift. Novel data indicates PC gaming revenue is projected to outpace console revenue by 2028, signaling a potential turning point in the global games market. This marks the first notable expansion since the pandemic slowdown and a more measured growth cycle is expected to continue through the end of the decade.
The Rise of PC Gaming: Growth Drivers
For over a decade, consoles have led in revenue generation. However, the PC market is experiencing a resurgence, fueled by several key factors. According to Newzoo’s latest report, PC revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% between 2025 and 2028, compared to 4.4% for consoles.
Premium games are a major driver of this growth, representing 29% of total PC revenue. AAA, AA, and indie releases all contributed to an 11.8% increase in revenue. Engagement is also expanding beyond the top 20 titles, with 42% of players engaging with games outside of the most popular releases in 2025, up from 33% in 2022.
Regional Expansion: Asia Leads the Charge
The growth isn’t limited to traditional PC gaming markets. Regional expansion, particularly in Asia, is playing a crucial role. China is a significant contributor, with an 11.7% increase in PC gamers in 2025. However, growth is also evident across East Asia, including Japan, where Steam is gaining traction.
Interestingly, the dynamics differ between regions. While China’s growth is driven by sheer volume of players, South Korea and Japan boast higher average revenue per paying user (ARPU).
The Post-Pandemic Market and Overall Growth
The overall PC and console gaming market grew 7% year-over-year in 2025, reaching $88.3 billion. Forecasts predict this will rise to $94.3 billion in 2026, and ultimately reach $103.7 billion by 2028. This indicates the industry is emerging from a period Newzoo terms the “post-2020 plateau.”
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the positive outlook, potential challenges remain. Supply chain issues affecting memory and storage, driven by the increasing demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure, could impact hardware prices and availability. This could affect both PC and console markets.
in China, a significant portion of gaming spending (around 84%) is directed towards domestically developed games, which could influence the overall global revenue distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is PC revenue expected to surpass console revenue?
A: PC revenue is projected to surpass console revenue by 2028.
Q: What is driving the growth of PC gaming?
A: Growth is driven by premium game sales, expanding player bases, and regional expansion, particularly in Asia.
Q: What is the projected growth rate for PC gaming?
A: PC gaming is expected to grow at a 6.6% compound annual growth rate between 2025 and 2028.
Q: What are the potential challenges to this growth?
A: Supply chain issues and regional spending patterns could impact the projected growth.
Did you know? The PC gaming player base is expected to exceed one billion people by 2028.
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