Newzoo Report: 20% of Global Gamers Account for Nearly Half of Gaming Spending, Averaging $325 Annually

Insights from Newzoo’s Report on Gaming Revenue Trends

A recent study released by global data firm Newzoo, in partnership with Tebex—a monetization platform catering to video game studios—offers crucial insights into contemporary gaming spending behaviors over the past six months. This in-depth report, titled Unlocking Games Revenue: Player Behavior and Payment Trends in the West, reveals intriguing patterns about how different demographics allocate their budgets toward video games.

Spending Habits in North America and Europe

According to the findings, North American gamers expend an average of $325 annually on video gaming, while their European counterparts spend around $125 each year. Notably, this substantial expenditure is driven by merely 20% of the global gaming community. In Newzoo’s terms, this indicates a phenomenon where “A small share of players accounts for a large share of spending.”

Predicted Growth of the Global Video Game Market

Looking ahead, Newzoo projects that the total global video game market will reach a staggering $188.9 billion, with a significant 46% of that revenue stemming from North America and Europe.

Global payers by region in 2025: North America leads in average spend per payer. — Image credit: Newzoo and Tebex

The Diverse Landscape of Gamers

To clarify their findings, Newzoo defines a “player”as anyone who has engaged with digital games—be it on PC, console, mobile device, or via cloud gaming services—in the last six months. Notably, the report highlights that mobile gaming has surged ahead, boasting almost 3 billion mobile gamers compared to 930 million PC gamers and 653 million console gamers.

Global gaming players by region infographic, 2025; shows percentages and growth rates. — Image credit: Newzoo and Tebex

Growth Outlook: Challenges Ahead

Despite significant spending, questions arise about the growth trajectory. Newzoo anticipates a modest annual growth rate of 1.1% in North America and a slightly higher rate of 3.1% in Europe from 2023 to 2027. This underscores the “slower growth in mature markets, ” prompting studios to reassess strategies beyond merely acquiring new payers. The report emphasizes that “evolving monetization strategies” will be pivotal in maintaining engagement and driving additional value.

The Future of Game Monetization

Central to Newzoo’s findings is the notion that studios need to prioritize “deeper monetization” for future success in the industry. The report outlines that with staggered payer growth in key markets, maximizing revenue from existing players should take precedence. The emphasis here is on aligning monetization practices with players’ motivations for spending, which is vital for enhancing both engagement and revenue.

“With modest payer growth in North America and Europe, studios must shift focus from acquiring new payers to maximizing value from existing ones. Aligning monetization with how and why players choose to spend is essential to driving engagement and revenue.” — Newzoo and Tebex.

Adapting to a Changing Landscape

Since its debut in 2017, Fortnite has transformed from just another game option into a platform in its own right, indifferent to the device used for play. This evolution underscores a significant trend where individual titles are extracting greater financial value from players. Notably, as highlighted by Newzoo and Tebex, the approach to monetization is critical. Not every game can thrive on microtransactions, and not all can justify steep prices for premium releases, especially amid rising costs.

Liam Wiltshire, head of payments and compliance at Tebex, aptly notes, “Today’s players want to know what they’re paying for – and why. How you monetize matters more than ever. Evolving monetization strategies are key to driving deeper engagement and long-term value.”

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