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Journalism of Courage
Gaming today is no longer just a hobby—it’s a multibillion-dollar industry and a global cultural phenomenon. From sold-out esports arenas to mega game launches rivalling Hollywood blockbusters, the scale is staggering. Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 6, due in 2026, is already breaking engagement records ahead of release.
In 2025, the global games market is projected to generate $522.46 billion across console, PC, mobile, online gaming, hardware, and accessories such as VR headsets. With a 7.01 per cent annual growth rate (2025–2030), revenue is expected to climb to $733.22 billion by 2030. By then, the number of gamers will cross 3 billion, with user penetration rising from 25.4 per cent in 2025 to 27.6 per cent. The average revenue per user (ARPU) is forecast at $1,840.
Leading the pack is the United States, projected to hit $141.84 billion in 2025, followed closely by China at $137.8 billion. Both markets are on track to approach $200 billion each within five years. Japan, the UK, and South Korea complete the top five.
Then comes India, one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in the world. From LAN cafés and imitation consoles two decades ago, India has emerged as a hotspot for gaming growth. According to Fortune, the country’s online gaming industry grew at a 28 per cent CAGR between FY20 and FY23, with revenues rising 23 per cent year-on-year to $3.8 billion in FY24. The figure is projected to more than double to $9.2 billion by FY29, and to hit $15 billion by 2030.
India’s strength lies in mobile gaming, boasting the highest number of downloads globally (15 billion annually). Esports prize pools have increased tenfold in just five years, and the government has officially recognised esports as a multi-sport event, putting professional gamers on par with athletes. The player base is also diversifying—42 per cent of India’s 590 million gamers (246 million) are women, making the community more inclusive than ever.
Cheap data, widespread smartphone adoption, cloud technology, and AI are powering this growth. With such rapid expansion, both globally and in India, here’s a look at the Top 10 gaming markets in the world by revenue in 2025:
| Rank | Country | Revenue in 2025 (in Billion USD) | Revenue in 2030 (in Billion USD) |
| 1. | United States | 141.8 | 199.3 |
| 2. | China | 137.8 | 196.5 |
| 3. | Japan | 50.9 | 64.8 |
| 4. | United Kingdom | 17.7 | 25.4 |
| 5. | South Korea | 14.6 | 20.0 |
| 6. | Germany | 13.1 | 18.1 |
| 7. | India | 10.1 | 15.9 |
| 8. | France | 9.9 | 13.3 |
Source: Statista
