In 2020, low-end Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) PC gaming had the biggest audience, reaching nearly 1.7 million users during the the period. The second-largest PC gaming category based on audience size was premium GaaS with about 359.6 million users. The Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) business model refers to live service games that are continuously monetized post-purchase via in-game features such as premium passes, extra online content, and special gaming modes in order to encourage players to keep playing. For example, live services accounted for the majority of video game publisher Electric Arts' quarterly net bookings.
In total, there were 1.75 billion PC gamers worldwide in 2020.
Number of PC gaming users worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by category
(in millions)
Characteristic
Pay-to-Play Low End
Pay-to-Play Premium
GaaS Low-End
GaaS Premium
2025*
297.6
182.7
1,829.4
388.2
2024*
292.9
179.5
1,803.5
381.4
2023*
288.6
176.5
1,775.1
376.9
2022*
283.8
174.3
1,746.5
371.2
2021*
279.4
172.1
1,722.6
366.5
2020
275
169.8
1,695.2
359.6
2019
255.9
148.9
1,480.4
336.3
2018
255.8
143.9
1,434.5
326.2
2017
247.5
140.1
1,379.4
317.5
2016
238.6
135.7
1,339.6
306.2
2015
231.7
131
1,300.8
295.9
2014
224.2
126
1,259.8
285
2013
217.4
121.9
1,217.2
277.3
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,000
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DFC Intelligence. (August 9, 2021). Number of PC gaming users worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by category (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 10, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/420628/pc-gamers-by-category/
DFC Intelligence. "Number of PC gaming users worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by category (in millions)." Chart. August 9, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/420628/pc-gamers-by-category/
DFC Intelligence. (2021). Number of PC gaming users worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by category (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 10, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/420628/pc-gamers-by-category/
DFC Intelligence. "Number of Pc Gaming Users Worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by Category (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 9 Aug 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/420628/pc-gamers-by-category/
DFC Intelligence, Number of PC gaming users worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by category (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/420628/pc-gamers-by-category/ (last visited May 10, 2025)
Number of PC gaming users worldwide from 2008 to 2025, by category (in millions) [Graph], DFC Intelligence, August 9, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/420628/pc-gamers-by-category/
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