Niko Partners, a leading market research and consulting firm specializing in video games, esports, and streaming in Asia and MENA, has released its 2023-2028 video game market models and forecasts. Covering 13 country markets, including China, India, Japan, Korea, and several Southeast Asian and MENA countries, the reports reveal significant growth trends and projections for the gaming industry in these regions.

Asia and MENA Games Market to Hit $100 Billion in 2028

Asia and MENA Games Market

According to Niko Partners, the number of gamers in Asia and MENA is expected to rise to nearly 2 billion by 2028, up from 1.6 billion in 2023. These gamers represented more than half of global players and spending on mobile and PC games in 2023. The region generated $86 billion in games revenue in 2023, marking a 4.6% year-over-year increase, surpassing global market growth rates.

2 Billion Gamers By 2028, Up From 1.6 Billion In 2023

Key Insights:

• The Asia and MENA gaming market is projected to continue growing through 2028, with India, MENA, and Southeast Asia leading this expansion. India is anticipated to add 277 million gamers by 2028, accounting for 72% of the total growth in gamers across these regions, thereby surpassing China.
• In 2023, Asia and MENA mobile games revenue constituted approximately 57.8% of global player spending on mobile games. Notably, 93.7% of gamers in these regions play on mobile devices, while 35.1% play on PC and 4.9% on consoles.
• Asia and MENA also accounted for about 50.4% of global player spending on PC games in 2023, with China leading as the largest games market by revenue, where PC gaming accounts for over 28% of total spending.
• India is identified as the fastest-growing market, followed closely by the MENA-3 countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt). In contrast, Japan and Korea are expected to experience slower growth.
• The average gaming hours per week in Asia have rebounded significantly, increasing by 36.2% year-over-year after a decline of 10% in 2023.

Games Revenue, Regional Market Share, and 5-Year CAGR

Lisa Hanson, CEO of Niko Partners: “Asia and MENA remain critical in the global games market. Drivers of growth in these regions include localization, increased participation by female gamers, government support for esports, growth of out-of-app monetization of mobile games, and rising spending power. Companies must understand the local market realities and context behind the data for strategic planning.”

Relevance to Web3 Gaming

These findings are particularly relevant to web3 gaming as the projected growth in the Asia and MENA regions presents notable opportunities for blockchain-based gaming platforms. The increase in gamer numbers, especially in India and the MENA region, alongside the high penetration of mobile gaming, creates a conducive environment for the adoption of decentralized gaming ecosystems.

Blockchain gaming, which focuses on player ownership, digital asset interoperability, and monetization through NFTs and cryptocurrencies, aligns with the market dynamics and rising spending power in these regions. As localization and government support for esports drive market expansion, web3 gaming companies that understand and adapt to local market conditions will be well-positioned to benefit from this growth. For more information please see Niko Partners' Asia & MENA Market Model here.