Majority of PC Gaming Revenue Generated by Titles Outside the Top 20

(AsiaGameHub) –   The PC and Console Gaming Report 2026, released by Newzoo, highlights a significant trend in Western markets. On PC, revenue generated by games outside the top 20 chart leaders has surpassed that of the leading titles, and players are also dedicating more time to these less prominent games.

Key Takeaways

• In Western markets, games ranked 21 and below accounted for 56% of PC revenue in 2025, an increase from 48%.
• Playtime for games outside the Top 20 saw a 44% increase, while overall PC playtime grew by 14%.
• On Xbox, Game Pass significantly influences player engagement, whereas PlayStation’s engagement is more driven by major exclusive catalog titles.

PC Gaming Environment Fosters Broader Success

More than half of PC gaming revenue in Western markets now originates from titles not among the Top 20. This finding from Newzoo signals a notable shift in the industry’s direction. While major hits continue to be important, the segment of games just below the top tier is gaining substantial commercial influence.

Tianyi Gu, manager of market analysis at Newzoo, explained the situation:

“On PC, the space below the Top 20 is becoming more economically meaningful. That doesn’t make the market unconcentrated, but it does make games below the very top more commercially relevant than before.”

This trend extends beyond sales figures, also reflecting in player engagement. Newzoo reports that playtime for games ranked 21 and lower surged by 44% in 2025. During the same period, total PC playtime increased by 14%, while playtime for Top 20 games remained stable or slightly declined. This indicates that players are not only purchasing more games from outside the top tier but are also investing more time in them.

Certain game genres appear to be benefiting disproportionately. Enduring catalog titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Skyrim continue to attract players. Survival games and action RPGs also align with this pattern, largely due to ongoing updates, balancing adjustments, and long-term support that maintain their relevance post-launch. Rust, DayZ, and Path of Exile 2 are notable examples in this category.

Newer releases are also experiencing a more extended period of engagement than in the past. Newzoo points to REPO and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 as games that maintained steady sales after dropping from bestseller lists. This is significant as the sharp decline in sales immediately after launch appears to be lessening. A larger segment of players seems content to wait for discounts, patches, or sufficient free time to engage with games later.

Console gaming trends present a different picture. On PlayStation, older titles must compete for player attention against annual sports games, which consistently capture engagement even outside the top ranks. When PlayStation players revisit older releases, they tend to favor high-profile exclusives like God of War Ragnarök, Ghost of Tsushima, Spider Man 2, and The Last of Us Part 2.

Xbox exhibits yet another distinct pattern. According to Newzoo, playtime on Xbox closely correlates with a game’s inclusion in Game Pass. New free-to-play titles constitute less than 1% of playtime on Xbox, suggesting that many players on this platform remain focused on the subscription library they already access.

Over two decades ago, Chris Anderson posited in Wired that PC gaming was well-positioned to capitalize on the “long tail,” partly due to nostalgia and older software finding new life on modern hardware. This prediction appears even more pertinent today. While PC gaming continues to accommodate blockbusters, the distribution of revenue and player time is broadening, offering publishers, live service developers, and catalog owners expanded opportunities.