Asia and MENA games markets hit $86.6 billion in 2024

The Asia and MENA game markets generated $86.6 billion in player spending in 2024, up 1.4% year-over-year. 

That’s according to a new report from Niko Partners, which showed that revenue is expected to reach $96bn by 2029 with a projected CAGR of 2.1%. 

The 13 countries from the report accounted for 46.4% of global games revenue and over 1.65bn gamers in 2024. By 2029, Asia and MENA is projected to have 2bn gamers – surpassing the combined total of all other regions. 

Global growth 

While the mature markets of China, Japan, and South Korea will still account for 88.7% of regional revenue by 2029, the report found that the biggest growth is emerging elsewhere. 

India is the fastest-growing market, set to add 250 million gamers over the next five years to reach a total of 724m while Thailand is projected to reach $2.4bn in player spending by 2029. 

In the MENA region, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt are gaining ground due to strong government investment and esports development, with the UAE’s Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) expected to exceed $100. 

Meanwhile, other Gulf countries like Qatar are also building out their games ecosystems, contributing to the region’s rising influence.

Continued efforts 

Female participation in games is growing, with women now making up over 37% of gamers in the MENA-3 region and 40% in India. 

The report also found that gamers in Asia and MENA are increasingly engaging with publishers’ community-building efforts, including direct-to-consumer sales of digital items and real-world events like esports and concerts. 

A major shift is the emergence of a new group of spenders in India, MENA, and Southeast Asia, driven by rising incomes, better digital access, with localised pricing and payment options.

You can access the full report here.