Sensor Tower has released its latest analysis of the PC and console gaming market, covering the period from January through August 3, 2025. Based on data from VG Insights, which was recently integrated into Sensor Tower, the report highlights downloads, sales, top publishers, and genre trends for the first seven months of the year.
PC and console gaming in 2025
The data shows PC and console platforms recorded 1.1 billion game downloads, with Steam accounting for 409 million, PlayStation 376 million, and Xbox 283 million. While this figure is small compared to the 30.4 billion mobile game installs during the same period, PC and console downloads are primarily paid titles, which significantly impacts revenue.
Steam is approaching a new record in premium game sales. As of August 2025, paid game sales on the platform were already 15% higher than in 2024, and by the end of the year, revenue from paid games on Steam is expected to exceed $12 billion. These trends underscore the continuing importance of the PC and console market as a source of revenue, even as mobile platforms dominate in sheer volume.
PC and Console Gaming in 2025
Genre trends across platforms
Action, shooter, and RPG games lead downloads on PC and consoles, with sports titles performing particularly well on consoles. The AA and indie segments also show distinct trends. In the AA category, action and RPGs have been the strongest performers, with titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II achieving notable numbers.
In the indie segment, shooter games dominate, including titles such as Splitgate 2, High on Life, and Ready or Not. Some projects labeled as indie, like Splitgate 2, received substantial investment, blurring the line between indie and larger studio releases.
Free-to-play games account for a varying share of downloads across platforms. PlayStation F2P downloads represent 17% of the total, Steam 21%, and Xbox 39%. Steam continues to be the main platform for indie developers, with 60% of downloads coming from indie titles, compared to 34–35% on PlayStation and Xbox.
PC and Console Gaming in 2025
Leading publishers and market strategies
Electronic Arts led PC and console publishers from January to early August 2025, recording 82.8 million downloads. Microsoft followed with 75.4 million downloads, and Sony registered 55.4 million. EA's numbers are expected to increase later in the year due to its typical sports release cycle in late summer and early fall.
EA's mobile business also performed strongly, surpassing 380 million downloads in the same period. Microsoft saw 452 million mobile installs, largely driven by King titles, while Sony's mobile footprint remains smaller.
In terms of advertising spend, Microsoft led with $44.2 million in the US, followed by Epic Games at $40.6 million and Take-Two at $26.3 million. Many leading publishers remain diversified in genre focus, although some maintain specialization, such as EA in sports and Capcom in RPGs.
NetEase stands out with 93% of revenue generated from shooters. Outside the top 10, publishers including Kepler Interactive, SEGA, Deep Silver, Square Enix, and semiwork (developers of R.E.P.O) have also achieved significant download figures. Regionally, US publishers account for 38% of total PC and console downloads, while Japan contributes 15% and France 10%.
PC and Console Gaming in 2025
Top titles and franchise performance
Among PC and console titles, EA Sports FC 25 led downloads with 12 million installs, followed by Monster Hunter Wilds at 11.7 million and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 with 8.5 million. When measured by monthly active users, Counter-Strike 2 reached 39.2 million players, closely followed by Fortnite at 38.7 million and Minecraft at 28.2 million.
Free-to-play advertising spend was dominated by Fortnite ($17.8M), Roblox ($9.6M for PC and console), and Valorant ($8.1M). Premium games investing heavily in marketing included Splitgate 2 ($9.3M), Assassin's Creed Shadows ($8.6M), and Civilization VII ($8M).
Franchises remain crucial for player retention, with updates to Elden Ring significantly increasing concurrent users and smaller expansions maintaining engagement through higher retention rates.
Upcoming releases have generated considerable anticipation. Hollow Knight: Silksong tops Steam's wishlist charts, while Deadlock, Subnautica 2, and Arena Breakout: Infinite also rank highly in player interest.
PC and Console Gaming in 2025
Regional engagement and player behavior
Regional activity varies across platforms. On mobile, the US leads with 18.3% of daily active users, followed by the Philippines at 17.7% and Mexico at 8.3%. PlayStation activity is dominated by the US, which accounts for 48.6% of daily active users, whereas Steam sees China in the lead at 21.8%, with the US at 14%.
Player behavior data indicates that fans of shooter titles like Call of Duty are also likely to engage with American football games and parkour-themed titles such as Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game. Marketing strategies for new releases, including Monster Hunter Wilds and R.E.P.O, combined pre-launch campaigns on TikTok and Reddit with post-launch advertising across OTT platforms, emphasizing gameplay features and retention.
PC and Console Gaming in 2025
Web3 integration and the gaming ecosystem
While the report focuses on downloads and sales, industry observers note the ongoing influence of web3 technologies in gaming commerce and player engagement. Platforms integrating web3-based economies or adaptive monetization strategies are increasingly exploring ways to maintain player spending and interaction through digital ecosystems, though adoption remains uneven.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which publisher led PC and console downloads in early 2025? Electronic Arts was the top publisher from January to August 3, 2025, recording 82.8 million downloads.
How many games were downloaded on PC and consoles in 2025 so far? Sensor Tower reports 1.1 billion downloads across PC and console platforms during the first seven months of 2025.
What are the most popular genres on PC and consoles? Action, shooter, and RPG games lead downloads, with sports titles performing well on consoles. Indie and AA segments show varying trends, with shooters dominating indie downloads.
How do free-to-play and paid games compare on PC and consoles? The share of free-to-play downloads is 17% on PlayStation, 21% on Steam, and 39% on Xbox. Paid games account for the remainder and are the primary source of revenue.
Which titles were most downloaded in 2025? EA Sports FC 25, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were the most downloaded premium titles. By MAU, Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, and Minecraft led player activity.
How do regions differ in gaming activity? On mobile, the US, Philippines, and Mexico lead in daily active users. PlayStation is dominated by the US, while Steam activity is highest in China, followed by the US.
What trends are emerging in web3 gaming integration? Some platforms are experimenting with web3-based monetization and adaptive commerce strategies to increase engagement and spending, though widespread adoption remains limited.
