Newzoo: 2026 console revenue would be flat year-on-year without Grand Theft Auto 6
Without the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 this year, console revenue would be flat compared to 2025. Read more
According to Newzoo's director of market intelligence Emmanuel "Manu" Rosier, without the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 this year, console revenue would remain flat compared to the previous year, 2025. Rosier stated that GTA 6 is the only factor ensuring growth in the console market for 2026. He also mentioned that Nintendo Switch 2 is another contributing factor.
If GTA 6 had not been released in 2026, the console platform would experience a year-on-year decline. Newzoo's Global Games Market Report predicts that console revenue will increase by 5.1% in 2026 to reach $46.9 billion, while GTA 6 is expected to boost full-game spending by 17.5%, the strongest growth among all business models.
Rosier noted that the launch of GTA 6 may cannibalize other games, which explains why many studios have delayed their release dates. He emphasized that the impact of GTA 6 will continue beyond 2026, as the strength of the game as a catalog title is immense. The report also highlights that mobile is the leading platform, generating 57% of all revenue globally, amounting to $121.1 billion and a 6.8% year-on-year increase.
Written by urgent.news from GamesIndustry's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.