The gaming industry is heading into 2026 with an interesting blend of momentum and uncertainty. In some areas, high-end gaming destinations continue to enjoy strong performance, buoyed by resilient travel demand and a steady appetite for premium leisure experiences.
But, elsewhere, operators are contending with softer consumer confidence, shifting player habits and the emergence of new digital formats that are subtly reshaping where and how people choose to play.
Recent analysis published in the Global Gaming 2026 Outlook by Bloomberg Intelligence suggests that 2025 has been marked by contrasts.
Traditional gaming hubs have seen periods of weaker footfall, online betting platforms have faced tighter margins, and many regional markets have had to navigate inflation, redevelopment projects and evolving customer expectations.
Even so, the general outlook for 2026 remains optimistic, with anticipated improvements in operational efficiency, stabilising tourism and renewed strength in the upper tiers of the market.
Essentially, the sector isn’t slowing down by any means – rather, it’s transforming, and it’s happening rapidly. Indeed, 2026 may prove to be one of the most unpredictable yet significant years for global gaming in recent memory.
Will Technology Will Redefine What Counts as “Gaming”?
As we head into 2026, the line between gaming, entertainment and everyday digital life is likely to blur even further than it already has.
Advances in AI, real-time personalisation and immersive interfaces are gradually shifting gaming from a standalone hobby into a fully integrated digital experience. Rather than simply launching a game, players may find themselves entering dynamic worlds that adapt to mood, behaviour and even time of day, creating play sessions that feel more like living ecosystems than static environments.
Another emerging trend is the expansion of gaming beyond traditional screens. Wearables, voice-driven systems and lightweight mixed-reality devices are expected to accelerate, offering new ways to play that feel more intuitive and less tethered to hardware.
This shift could also potentially broaden the demographic of gamers, as interfaces become more accessible and gameplay becomes more passive, ambient or woven into daily routines. In essence, 2026 may be the year gaming transitions from something you choose to do into something that surrounds you.
A New Era of Player Expectations and Digital Behaviour
Players are becoming more discerning, and their expectations in 2026 will likely extend far beyond graphics or mechanics. With digital services in every industry becoming faster, smarter and more adaptive, gamers may demand the same level of sophistication from their favourite platforms. This could mean deeper customisation, more transparent reward structures, and experiences that feel genuinely tailored rather than broadly segmented.
There is also a growing awareness around digital well-being, attention and the value of time. As people become more conscious of how they engage with technology, gaming platforms may face pressure to offer healthier structures – things like shorter play bursts, better content pacing or tools that help players manage engagement without compromising enjoyment. At the same time, communities may play an even larger role, with social connection becoming a core component of long-term retention.
All of this points toward a landscape where success is defined not just by innovation, but by how meaningfully gaming fits into the rhythms and values of modern life.
What Do The Experts Have To Say?
- Danielle An: Senior Tech Lead at Meta
- Anna Zhang: Head of Marketing at U7Buy
- Gary Knight: CEO of WOLF
- Dmitry Kandratsyeu: Head of Product at Solitaires.com
- Bob Bilbruck: CEO at Captjur
- Niraj Pancholi: Writer, Director, Festival Judge and Film Expert
- Christopher Mitchell: Head of Game Design at Vancouver Film School
- Mario Serralta: Founding Lawyer at Abogado Mario
Danielle An, Senior Tech Lead at Meta
“At its core, VR provides users with “adventures from the comfort of your home, in a budget-friendly way.” It’s often said that every human dreams of traveling the world. For some of us, that means exploring exotic places like ancient caves in Iceland; for others, it might be the perfect dive in the Maldives. And often, it involves activities we may never be able to do in real life.
“VR experiences provide a unique blend of adrenaline and comfort — allowing you to replay the experience from your couch, at a fixed cost, without the real-world risks. These sensations simply weren’t achievable in traditional 2D adventure games without the immersive environment VR creates.
“While VR has faced adoption challenges in recent years, continued technological advancements will likely help it gain momentum in 2026.
Anna Zhang, Head of Marketing at U7Buy
“The gaming industry is experiencing its most transformative period yet. By 2026, we expect the global market to reach approximately $250 billion, driven by three major shifts.
“First, mobile gaming will solidify its dominance, accounting for over 55% of revenue as cross-platform experiences become standard. Second, subscription models will largely replace traditional ownership, players want access over possession. Third, security will become paramount as digital assets gain real value through blockchain integration and cross-game economies.
“Games are evolving from entertainment products into persistent digital worlds. Players increasingly view in-game items as investments, not purchases. This shift demands robust security infrastructure and marketplace transparency. Studios focusing on player trust, seamless cross-platform experiences, and sustainable monetization will surely thrive, while those clinging to outdated models will struggle to compete.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Gary Knight, CEO WOLF
“By 2026, gaming will be even more deeply intertwined with social connection, particularly in regions where community-focused digital behaviour is accelerating. At WOLF, we’ve seen firsthand how audience expectations are moving beyond stand-alone gaming and toward integrated entertainment ecosystems.
“What we believe is clear is that 2026 will be the year when social gaming becomes the gateway to long-term community participation. Simple, competitive, multiplayer formats will act as instant ice-breakers, drawing new users into wider conversations, friendships and shared experiences.
“Looking ahead, we expect to see richer spectator features, social media integration and new monetisation mechanics shaping the next wave of growth in this sector.”
Dmitry Kandratsyeu, Head of Product at Solitaires.com
“By 2026, the global gaming industry is expected to grow even further, building on the strong momentum of 2025. Market analysts project worldwide games revenue to exceed $200 billion around 2026, driven largely by mobile, casual, and cross-platform gaming. Mobile gaming remains the fastest-growing segment, continuing to outpace both console and PC in audience reach and monetisation.
“At the same time, we’re seeing a major shift as the largest entertainment companies move deeper into gaming. Netflix has already launched a growing catalogue of mobile titles, and Disney has begun investing heavily in interactive content and casual game formats like match-3 and solitaire. This signals a broader trend and in 2026, mainstream media giants will increasingly enter the gaming market not as side experiments but as strategic pillars of their strategy.
“The result is a new era where gaming becomes a core extension of global entertainment brands.”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
Bob Bilbruck, CEO at Captjur
“AI will revolutionize not only the way people play games but also the way games look and feel while playing the game. Personalization will be a key feature. The one size fits all gaming scenario is gone forever. All games and story lines will be personalized and fit eh player playing the game – AI will enable this depth in the game seamlessly as a player plays more the system will gather data that will allow more personalization each time the person plays the game; thus making the games much more immersive.”
Niraj Pancholi, Writer, Director, Festival Judge and Film Expert
“Gamers are jaded by massive open worlds inundated with mundane tasks. Most gamers don’t finish open-world games at 100%. Entire areas remain unexplored because the activities are either inconsequential to the story or simply boring.
“In 2026, you can expect open worlds that are geographically smaller yet filled with meaningful tasks that matter to both the storyline and the characters. We’re already seeing that shift with games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which avoid endless landscapes that take hours to traverse, allowing for a tighter narrative and a denser, more focused world.”
Christopher Mitchell, Head of Game Design at Vancouver Film School
“Quality becomes the only metric that matters in game development. Twenty years ago if you released an 8/10 game, that was enough to have a multi-million selling game be all but assured. Today that bar is simply higher. Only 9 or 10 out of ten games manage to hit. Developers bemoan less sales, but the reality is that there’s no ultra-high quality games at the bottom of the steam sales lists.
“This change is simply a result of technology. As game engines, both commonly available and bespoke, have become more complex, the floor of what’s possible in gaming has increased to match. We’re in the age where developers are realizing that as the floor rises, the ceiling must raise as well. For example, multiplayer, which used to be reserved for the top tier of developers, is now possible with simple low-code solutions like coherence.io.
“This change is bad news for developers that rely on almost factory like productions, that tend to result in good, but not exceptional games, but great news for AA teams relying on small size, low cost, common toolsets and long burn times.”
Mario Serralta, Founding Lawyer at Abogado Mario
“The game industry has undergone radical shifts over the past several years, and I anticipate that those changes will pick up by 2026. People choose games that combine entertainment, competition and real money mechanics. That trend alone has left state and federal regulators to pay more attention to CONSUMER PROTECTIONS when games become a financial risk.
“When I’m counseling families, I hear from them often about how much time their children are on online gaming, so I definitely see how companies will focus on USER SAFETY. I suspect many policy decisions will be formed by a demand for accountability — without hindering innovation. That would be consistent with principles enshrined in the United States Constitution, which affords Congress wide latitude over interstate commerce; as games become ever more intertwined, authority becomes increasingly essential to how the industry takes shape.
“What we’ll likely want to see is more cooperation between developers, legal departments and the financial community to come up with systems that can be created that protect consumers but keep gameplay fun. As a lawyer and CPA, I have found that the greatest cause of disputes between business owners is misinformation in financial arrangements. As long as the industry stays committed to safety, trust, and transparency, 2026 will see growth that is beneficial for both users and developers.”
