In the last few years, especially post-COVID, we’ve seen a massive rise in the number of people gaming on PC platforms. It has become something of a paradigm shift, with more people adopting a PC-driven setup than a console-backed one, which has led to both positive and negative trends surfacing.
In a new 80-page report published by NewZoo, it was confirmed in no unclear terms that PC is fast becoming the most dominant force in the business. By 2028, it’ll be making more money than console platforms, it already has far more players, and it’s driving the emergence of new monetization models that are too lucrative for anyone to ignore.
If You’re Ignoring PC in 2026, You’re Doing it Wrong
NewZoo’s new report revealed an interesting nugget of information. Using the data available, it has been estimated that, by 2028, PC revenue will surpass console revenue in every way, with the latter relying on blockbuster releases to firm up its earnings potential.
This growth will be led by Asian expansion, a growing share of PC distribution amongst Gen Z and Gen Alpha gamers, higher average selling prices, and Valve’s ecosystem expanding to include more hardware.
It doesn’t end there.
By 2028, PC could surpass one billion players, while console platforms will lag behind with just 688 million, globally. Right now, the PC player base is floating around 966 million, which puts consoles to shame already, but it’ll explode over the next few years, given the expected trends.
It’s worth pointing out that both of them are dwarfed by the number of players enjoying mobile-based games, but that’s a topic for another day.
NewZoo also drew attention to an emerging trend that’s seeing $30 – $50 games soar at launch, noting that sub-$30 games are thriving in the PC space, especially. The dominance of breakout indie games constantly boosts PC’s performance in that respect.
It was noted that a painful trend still exists on consoles. The lion’s share of all money made goes to the top twenty games in the ecosystem, but in the PC space, more than half of all revenue is attributed to games beyond that ranking. We’re also seeing a ‘structural decline’ of AAA-driven genres, which is no big secret in 2026.
It’s also a damning fact that PC is supporting the industry on mighty shoulders. Between 2024 and 2025, playtime dropped on Xbox by 3% and on PlayStation by 4%, but PC saw a 3% increase as it soaks up the majority market share.
What’s holding the players in the PC space, then?
NewZoo revealed that Roblox, Counter-Strike 2, and League of Legends are in the top spots for PC players. They’re followed by Minecraft, Fortnite, Dota 2, and VALORANT. Beyond that, it’s World of Warcraft, The Sims 4, Call of Duty, and Escape from Tarkov.
That being said, the growth isn’t just coming from premium titles. In major markets, PC’s free-to-play revenue is soaring, almost doubling that of PlayStation and Xbox games. Games like League of Legends and Counter-Strike will always keep that figure high, though.
Are you really surprised that PC is dominating consoles, and will do so to a more extreme scale going forward? Let us know what you’re thinking on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Microsoft is deleting traces of This is an Xbox marketing campaign
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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