Metaverse in Gaming Market Report 2026

The metaverse in gaming market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $67.53 billion in 2025 to $95.85 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to advancement of online multiplayer gaming, expansion of digital gaming communities, increased availability of high-speed internet, growth of virtual economies, adoption of cloud gaming platforms.

The metaverse in gaming market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $317.58 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing investment in metaverse platforms, rising demand for immersive social gaming, expansion of blockchain-based gaming assets, growing focus on interoperability across virtual worlds, increasing integration of ai-driven game environments. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of persistent virtual worlds, rising integration of nfts in gaming ecosystems, growing demand for cross-platform virtual experiences, expansion of social and multiplayer metaverse environments, enhanced focus on user-generated content.

The increasing popularity of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) is expected to fuel the growth of the metaverse in the gaming market. AR enhances the real world by adding digital elements, while VR immerses users in fully digital environments through specialized headsets. The rising appeal of AR and VR is driven by their capacity to offer immersive, interactive experiences in fields like gaming, education, healthcare, and entertainment, reshaping how digital content is experienced and interacted with. In the gaming metaverse, AR and VR are used to create interconnected virtual worlds where players can engage with both each other and the environment, enhancing gameplay and social connections. For example, a report from Threekit, a U.S.-based visual commerce platform, in August 2023, predicted that by the end of 2024, 1.73 billion AR devices will be in use globally, reflecting a significant increase in the accessibility of AR technology. Additionally, 88% of medium-sized businesses are currently using or testing AR for various purposes like sales and product development, while 61% of consumers report that retailers are offering AR shopping experiences, highlighting the growing consumer interest in interactive shopping. As a result, the rising popularity of AR and VR is driving the expansion of the metaverse in the gaming market.

Prominent entities in the gaming metaverse domain are prioritizing the development of advanced platforms, such as community-driven gaming platforms, to enrich immersive experiences and cultivate user engagement. These platforms harness the collective creativity, passion, and expertise of players to shape gaming experiences and foster vibrant, thriving communities. For example, in January 2024, Nifty Island LLC, a US-based play-to-earn gaming platform, unveiled the open beta version of its metaverse games, offering players a distinctive gaming environment featuring avatars from renowned non-fungible token (NFT) collections such as Azuki, Bored Apes, CloneX, and CoolCats. Nifty Island's play-to-airdrop system further incentivizes player participation by rewarding them with tokens and NFTs, enhancing the integration between the game and the broader Web3 ecosystem, thereby aligning with the decentralized and interconnected ethos of the metaverse.

In April 2025, Futureverse Global Private Limited, a U.S.-based provider of metaverse platforms, digital collectibles, and NFT-driven social experiences, acquired Candy Digital Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Futureverse plans to integrate premium intellectual property from DC Comics and Netflix into its metaverse ecosystem, expand its portfolio of NFTs and digital collectibles, and boost user engagement through exclusive content and interactive experiences. Candy Digital Inc. is a U.S.-based provider of NFT collectibles, digital assets, and blockchain-based content, specializing in sports, entertainment, and pop culture intellectual property.

Major companies operating in the metaverse in gaming market are Microsoft Corporation, Meta Platforms Inc, Sony Corporation, Epic Games Inc, Roblox Corporation, Unity Software Inc, Electronic Arts Inc, NetEase Inc, Tencent Holdings Ltd, Nintendo Co Ltd, Valve Corporation, Take Two Interactive Software Inc, Ubisoft Entertainment SA, Square Enix Holdings Co Ltd, Bandai Namco Holdings Inc, Sega Corporation, Capcom Co Ltd, Nexon Company, NCSoft Corporation, Pearl Abyss Corp, The Sandbox, Decentraland.

North America was the largest region in the metaverse in gaming market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the metaverse 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 metaverse in gaming market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The metaverse in gaming market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as cloud gaming services, subscription-based access, personalization, and customization. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The metaverse in the gaming market also includes sales of gaming consoles, motion controllers, haptic feedback devices, specialized input devices, and high-performance PCs. 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.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.