The "State of Video Gaming 2026" report by Matthew Ball from Epyllion captures the paradoxes of the market. In 2025, software sales grew by 5.3% to $195.6 billion. However, private investment fell by 55%, which hits the stability of studios.
Software sales on consoles reached a record $41.6 billion (+2.3% compared to 2020), but sales of individual games and microtransactions decreased by almost 11% year-on-year. The difference was covered by subscriptions like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass. Platforms are actively promoting the subscription model, and against the background of rising costs, new price increases are possible.
The PC market looks more stable. Since 2020, the segment has grown by 30% and has not faced a decline. 20% of global spending is provided by players from China. Even without taking into account Chinese capital, the PC market exceeds the console market by $6.7 billion.
The lack of investment is already leading to layoffs and threatening independent studios. Many are switching to outsourcing to reduce fixed costs.
The report also mentions Roblox: in August 2025, the platform attracted 47.3 million players and strengthened its position in the market, despite legal pressure and child safety issues.
