Annual revenue for the Chinese gaming market has surpassed $50 billion for the first time. Market research firm Niko Partners reported that revenue across PC, mobile, and console platforms in China reached $51.8 billion (approx. 70.2 trillion won) in 2025, up 5.4% year-over-year.
| 📒 | - Chinese gaming revenue reaches $51.8B in 2025 - Forecasted at $53.9B in 2026 and $59.8B in 2030 - Short-form video 41%, esports 51.3%, mini-games approx. 20% |
In data on the Chinese gaming market released on the 1st, Niko Partners projected that revenue in 2026 will increase 4.0% year-over-year to $53.9 billion (approx. 73.0453 trillion won). The forecast for 2030 stands at $59.8 billion (approx. 81.041 trillion won). The expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2025 to 2030 is 2.9%.
This forecast was revised upward from the previous estimate published in November 2025. Niko Partners cited strong performances from newly launched titles and long-running live-service games as the primary reasons for the adjustment. By 2030, the number of gamers in China is projected to reach 769 million.
Short-form video showed a prominent impact as a channel for game discovery. According to the survey, 41% of Chinese players responded that they discover new games or related information through short-form video apps. Niko Partners identified short-form video as the most widely used game discovery method across all combined platforms—PC, mobile, and console.
The esports engagement rate increased from 46.5% in 2025 to 51.3% in 2026. Here, engagement encompasses playing esports games, watching esports tournaments, or participating in competitions. As it goes beyond simple viewership metrics, the metric reflects a broad scope.
Mini-games have also grown into a major pillar of the mobile market. 80% of Chinese players reported having played mini-games, with mini-game spending accounting for roughly 20% of total mobile game expenditures in China. Niko Partners analyzed that as user reach and monetization potential expand, mini-games are taking on an increasingly critical role within the mobile ecosystem.
Niko Partners highlighted key trends that will drive the Chinese market over the next five years, including the integration of generative AI into game development and user experiences, growth in niche genres, expansion of out-of-app payments, increased spending on premium PC and console games, and an improving regulatory landscape. However, it noted that demand for AI infrastructure is straining memory and semiconductor supplies, driving up consumer device prices and posing a burden on the market.
