adminSingle-player video games continued to find an audience in Q1 2026, even as live-service titles remained a major force in the industry. Global gaming content revenue grew for a seventh consecutive quarter, and standout results for Capcom and Pearl Abyss offered evidence that players still respond to polished, compelling standalone releases.
Image credit: Capcom
Single-player video games contribute to Q1 2026 growth
Global game content revenue reached $54.14 billion in Q1 2026, a 3.6% increase year over year, according to estimates from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The figures include software, in-game purchases, and game-based subscription services, but exclude hardware. This distinction matters when comparing content performance with console or PC hardware sales.
Tencent remained the world’s largest gaming company, generating an estimated $9.60 billion in gaming content revenue, up 8.4% from a year earlier. Chinese publisher NetEase recorded a larger percentage increase: revenue climbed 12.3% to $3.62 billion. S&P linked the growth to titles including Where Winds Meet, Marvel Rivals, and other domestic franchises.
Image credit: S&P Global Market Intelligence
Capcom and Pearl Abyss post major gains
Capcom’s gaming content revenue rose 89.8% year over year to $451.8 million. The company benefited from Resident Evil Requiem, described as the fastest-selling entry in the franchise to date. Pearl Abyss recorded an even larger percentage jump, with revenue soaring 468.6% to $328.1 million as Crimson Desert sold more than five million copies.
S&P’s assessment suggests that players may be willing to try traditional standalone games when publishers deliver an appealing overall experience. Live-service games still account for a substantial share of the market, but the Q1 results indicate that single-player releases can also generate significant commercial interest.
Revenue gains were not limited to those publishers. Roblox increased revenue 39.3% to $1.44 billion. Nexon was up 29.8%, Bandai Namco grew 28.7%, and Electronic Arts recorded an 11.9% rise. S&P noted that the biggest dollar gains were concentrated among a relatively small group of large publishers and platform holders, including companies with established live-service businesses and strong positions in China.
Platform holders deliver mixed results
Nintendo’s content revenue rebounded, rising 37.7% to $1.31 billion. S&P associated the increase with Switch 2 sales and the successful release of Pokémon Pokopia. Sony’s gaming content revenue grew 6.3% to $2.87 billion, supported by PlayStation’s range of third-party and live-service games. However, Sony also recorded a $765 million impairment on Bungie in its full-year results, while operating income fell 41.6% in Q4.
Microsoft’s gaming revenue slipped 0.2% to $4.12 billion. S&P attributed the decline to weaker Xbox hardware sales, which are not part of the global content-revenue total. When reviewing these figures, it is useful to distinguish hardware results from software and service performance.
Ubisoft’s gaming content revenue fell 48.7%, a decline S&P linked to the timing of Assassin’s Creed releases. The company later announced the closure of its Winnipeg and Belgrade studios and worldwide publishing-role cuts, putting 380 jobs at risk. Embracer Group revenue declined 35%, while Sega fell 16.7%, with S&P pointing to the underperformance of Sonic Rumble Party. Sega also reported a $200 million impairment for Rovio, which it acquired in 2023 for $776 million.
Image credit: S&P Global Market Intelligence
PC leads platform growth
PC was the fastest-growing platform in Q1, with revenue increasing 7.8% year over year to $12.11 billion. Its share of the market rose to 22.4%, compared with 21.5% in the same period a year earlier. Mobile remained the largest segment at $30.53 billion, though its growth was slower at 2.5%. Console revenue reached $9.81 billion, up 1.3%, making it the slowest-growing of the three segments.
S&P’s estimates draw on publicly reported revenue from publishers and platform holders, discussions with industry figures, proprietary survey data, and other market research. Taken together, the Q1 figures show continued expansion across gaming content, with PC leading platform growth and major releases helping Capcom and Pearl Abyss stand out. The results also reinforce that demand for single-player video games remains meaningful alongside the ongoing strength of live-service titles.
