The latest findings from Sensor Tower outline the state of the gaming industry as we look towards 2026. According to their recent report, while mobile gaming revenue has plateaued, the PC segment has experienced notable growth.
Throughout 2025, gamers downloaded an impressive 52 billion games across mobile, PC, and console platforms. Despite a rate of 95,000 mobile game downloads per minute, revenues in this category rose only slightly—up 1% to reach $82 billion. This stagnation contrasts with the double-digit increases seen in PC and console gaming, which collectively saw revenue soar by 13% along with an uptick in downloads and launches.
The slower growth in mobile gaming is attributed to a shift in focus on maintaining and monetizing the current user base through strategies such as live operations, events, and partnerships with intellectual properties.
In contrast, the PC and console gaming landscape is marked by revenue growth driven by exciting new releases, including leading titles like Battlefield 6, EA Sports FC 25, EA Sports FC 26, and the free-to-play title Skate.
Indie developers have also found success, with titles like R.E.P.O. and Peak reflecting a growing interest in innovative and cooperative gameplay dynamics. Data indicates a younger demographic is increasingly engaging with PC gaming, while female gamers are more prevalent in the hypercasual segment.
Key points presented in the report include:
- Shift in Mobile Monetization: Focus on retaining and monetizing existing players due to a decline in new downloads.
- PC Gaming Growth: Record year for Steam shows a promising trajectory for premium game sales and overall releases.
- Changing Ad Spend Dynamics: Shift towards mobile platforms in advertising trends.
- Strategy Games on Mobile: Popularity of strategy games like Last War: Survival and Whiteout Survival drives revenue and engagement.
Reflecting on the report provides valuable insights into the current gaming landscape:
- The flat growth in mobile gaming emphasizes the importance of player retention and innovative monetization strategies.
- Revenue spikes in PC gaming signal a growing market with active engagement from diverse developers.
- Advertising trends indicate a shift towards mobile, highlighting changing consumer behavior.
- The dominance of strategy games on mobile highlights new avenues for engagement and revenue generation.