Creator Economy in Gaming Market Report 2026

The creator economy in gaming market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $39.06 billion in 2025 to $49.3 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing adoption of gaming consoles, growth of broadband internet access, emergence of streaming platforms, rise of social media for gaming content, early investments in esports infrastructure.

The creator economy in gaming market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $123.02 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancements in ai-driven content creation, expansion of cloud gaming services, increased adoption of ar/vr/xr in gaming, growth of blockchain-based gaming economies, rising global esports viewership. Major trends in the forecast period include rise of user-generated gaming content, growth of influencer-led game marketing, expansion of esports and competitive gaming content, popularity of game mods and customization tools, monetization through crowdfunding and fan support.

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 June 2025, Offscript Worldwide, a US-based technology and entertainment firm, acquired 3BLACKDOT for an undisclosed sum. Through this acquisition, Offscript Worldwide seeks to broaden its footprint in the $347 billion global gaming market by utilizing 3BLACKDOT’s capabilities in immersive game creation and digital content production. 3BLACKDOT Holdings LLC is a US-based technology and creative studio that focuses on delivering premium game development, cinematic content, and interactive storytelling solutions for clients in gaming and entertainment.

Major companies operating 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 2025. The regions covered in the creator economy in gaming market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the creator economy in gaming market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, 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.

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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