Creator Economy in Gaming Market Report 2025

The creator economy in gaming market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $30.98 billion in 2024 to $39.06 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.1%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rise of user-generated content, growth of gaming livestreaming, expansion of microtransactions, increasing influencer marketing, and emergence of esports monetization.

The creator economy in gaming market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $98.31 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of blockchain gaming, increasing demand for virtual assets, rising popularity of play-to-earn models, expansion of metaverse economies, and growing brand collaborations in gaming. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in AI-driven content creation, innovations in virtual reality and augmented reality gaming, developments in blockchain-based gaming economies, investments in research and development in immersive gaming experiences, and development of cloud-based game streaming technologies.

The forecast of 26% growth over the next five years reflects a slight reduction of 0.1% from the previous projection. This reduction is primarily due to the impact of tariffs between the US and other countries. The cost of importing game engines, consoles, and monetization tools may rise under new tariffs, constraining indie developers. The effect will also be felt more widely due to reciprocal tariffs and the negative effect on the global economy and trade due to increased trade tensions and restrictions.

The growth of video game streaming is anticipated to drive the expansion of the gaming creator economy in the coming years. Video game streaming involves live broadcasting of gameplay over the internet, enabling viewers to watch in real-time on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. The rise in video game streaming is largely due to improved access to high-speed internet, which allows streamers to broadcast gameplay with minimal lag while delivering high-quality, smooth streams for viewers worldwide. This development fosters larger audiences and more interactive communities. The creator economy in gaming supports video game streaming by offering tools, platforms, and monetization options that enable streamers to produce engaging content, grow their audiences, and generate revenue through sponsorships, donations, and subscriptions. For example, according to a November 2024 report by Softonic International S.A., a Spain-based software download platform, the number of global video game players reached 3.31 billion in 2023, up from 3.03 billion in 2022. This growth highlights how video game streaming is driving the expansion of the gaming creator economy.

Technological advancements in generative AI are playing a significant role in driving the creation of high-quality 3D and 4D content within the gaming creator economy. Major players in the market are focusing on innovations such as generative AI systems for 3D and 4D content creation, which enables the production of high-quality assets with minimal technical expertise. These systems leverage advanced machine learning models to automatically create, modify, and animate three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) assets, allowing for fast and efficient content generation for virtual environments. For instance, in April 2025, Roblox Corporation, a US-based video game developer, introduced Cube 3D, an open-source generative AI system designed for creating 3D objects and environments. Cube 3D enables developers to create 3D models and scenes through simple textual descriptions. The system is trained on native 3D data from the Roblox platform, ensuring compatibility with modern game engines and supporting functional object generation.

In August 2022, X1 Entertainment Group Inc., a Canadian gaming and media portfolio company, acquired Tyrus LLC to strengthen its presence in the gaming creator economy. With this acquisition, X1 Esports aims to expand its influence by integrating Tyrus’ vast network of content creators, thus enhancing audience engagement and unlocking new monetization opportunities. Tyrus LLC, based in the US, is a company that operates within the gaming creator economy.

Major players in the creator economy in gaming market are Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Activision Blizzard Inc., Logitech Services S.A., Manticore Games Inc., Unity Software Inc., KRAFTON Inc., Twitch Interactive Inc., Epic Games Inc., Opera Norway AS, Improbable, Discord Inc., Patreon Inc., Roblox Corporation, Gamefam Inc., DLive Entertainment Pte. Ltd., StreamElements Inc., Mod.io Pty Ltd., Sky Mavis, Anzu Virtual Reality Ltd., Mobcrush Inc.

North America was the largest region in the creator economy in gaming market in 2024. The regions covered in creator economy in gaming report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the creator economy in gaming market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The creator economy in gaming market includes of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as game development platforms, modding communities, live streaming services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. The creator economy in gaming market consists of sales of User-generated content (UGC), Ad-based monetization, mods and custom assets. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

The rapid surge in U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are heavily affecting the media sector, particularly in areas such as content creation, broadcasting, and digital streaming. Increased tariffs on imported audiovisual gear, editing tools, and broadcasting technologies have driven up both production and operational costs for media companies. Film and TV studios are incurring higher expenses for sourcing foreign-made cameras, lighting, and post-production equipment, while news and broadcast outlets are facing steeper costs for satellite services and transmission hardware. Additionally, retaliatory tariffs imposed by other countries are hindering the export of U.S.-based media content, curbing international revenue growth. To navigate these challenges, media firms are increasingly sourcing domestically, accelerating digital transformation, and adopting AI-powered production tools to reduce costs and sustain their global competitiveness amid ongoing trade disruptions.

The creator economy in gaming market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides creator economy in gaming market statistics, including creator economy in gaming industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a creator economy in gaming market share, detailed creator economy in gaming market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the creator economy in gaming industry. This creator economy in gaming market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The creator economy in gaming refers to an ecosystem where individuals such as gamers, developers, streamers, and influencers create and monetize video game-related content. This includes activities such as developing standalone games, creating game modifications (mods), broadcasting gameplay, and producing gaming tutorials or reviews. These creators leverage digital platforms to share their content, engage with their audience, and generate revenue through sponsorships, brand partnerships, merchandise sales, and direct support from their followers.

The main platforms for the creator economy in gaming include streaming platforms, social media platforms, gaming consoles, and personal computers or mobile devices. Streaming platforms are digital services that allow users to broadcast live or on-demand video content, often with a focus on gaming. The types of creators in this space include streamers or content creators, game developers, influencers, and esports athletes or teams, each producing content such as live streaming, on-demand video, esports events, gaming tutorials, and guides. Monetization models in this space include subscription-based models, one-time purchases, and pay-per-use formats.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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