Digital gaming continued to dominate, with digital spending across console, PC, and mobile totaling £5.71 billion, underscoring a move away from physical formats.

UK consumer spend on game culture rose to £566 million in 2025, up 42% from £397 million in 2024, with growth seen across the entire game culture spectrum.

The surge in 'Game Culture' spend includes film, TV, toys, and merchandising, helped by Minecraft movie-related content driving interest.

Overall UK gaming industry consumer spend reached a new peak at £8.76 billion in 2025, up 7.4% year over year, according to Ukie.

anticipation builds around GTA 6 from Rockstar North (Edinburgh), positioned as a potential major driver for the UK games market in 2026.

Industry observers view 2026 as potentially monumental for UK gaming, with GTA 6 expected to significantly boost the sector’s global profile.

Author attribution: Alex Raisbeck, Gaming Writer at Radio Times, known for covering both AAA and indie titles.

Software spending led the breakdown, totaling £6.03 billion, up 7% from the previous year, while hardware spending reached £2.17 billion.

Ukie CEO Nick Poole attributed growth to resilient consumer confidence in gaming amid higher living costs, while highlighting 2026 as a potentially transformative year.