In the dynamic world of video games, brand reputation is often as crucial as the games themselves. A few standout companies have consistently earned the admiration and loyalty of gamers worldwide due to their innovation, quality, and ability to craft immersive experiences. These industry leaders continue to push the boundaries of technology and storytelling, delivering franchises that have become household names. To explore the top brands making waves in the gaming world, take a look at our comprehensive list below.
Illustration of video games
Best brands of video games in 2025
Nintendo
Nintendo is one of the most successful and influential video game brands, having sold over 154 million units of the Nintendo DS, making it the best-selling handheld console. The Nintendo Switch, another hybrid console, has sold 146.04 million units worldwide as of the latest data. Nintendo dominates the market with a strong 27% market share, despite a 15% drop in shipments in 2023. The company's iconic consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), have sold 61.91 million units and played a crucial role in revitalizing the American gaming industry after the 1983 video game crash. Nintendo's software sales for the Switch alone have reached 1,306.10 million units.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment stands as a leading producer in the video game industry, boasting a significant market share of around 70% globally compared to Xbox's 30% as of 2022. The company has achieved remarkable sales, with the PlayStation 5 selling 65 million units worldwide as of September 30, 2024, and the PlayStation Network having 116 million Monthly Active Users. Their popular franchises, such as "Horizon" and "The Last of Us," have sold over 32.7 million and 37 million copies respectively. Additionally, PlayStation Plus subscribers total 47.4 million globally, highlighting the brand's strong user base. Sony's gaming segment generated around $25 billion in revenue in the fiscal year 2023, underscoring its dominance in the gaming market. For more information, visit their official website.
Microsoft Xbox
Microsoft's Xbox brand is a leading producer in the video game industry, with significant milestones such as the Xbox 360 selling over 86 million units as of October 2021 and the Xbox Series X|S reaching 27.68 million units shipped worldwide. The brand has seen a global market share, with the Xbox operating system holding around 14.76% in January 2023 and up to 96.96% in August 2023 in certain regions. Microsoft's gaming revenue has been substantial, with $15.47 billion in revenue and $1.5 billion from Xbox gaming subscriptions in Q3 of 2023. The Xbox Series X|S has also shown notable sales, despite a 13.7% year-on-year decline to 0.81 million units sold year-to-date in 2024. The brand continues to expand its gaming ecosystem with services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Game Pass. For more details, visit their official website.
Valve Corporation
Valve Corporation is a leading video game developer, publisher, and digital distribution company, renowned for its innovative games and the dominant Steam platform. Founded in 1996 by Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, Valve has developed iconic franchises such as Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Portal, and Dota 2. The company's revenue has been exceptionally high, generating around $13 billion in 2022, with Steam controlling 50 to 70% of the digital PC games market as of 2011. The Steam Deck, launched in 2022, has seen significant success with over 2 million units shipped. Valve's flat organizational structure and emphasis on community-created content have further solidified its position in the gaming industry.
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (EA) is a leading global developer and publisher of video games, generating over $7.5 billion in annual revenues and a net income of $1.27 billion in its most recent fiscal year. The company owns major gaming studios like BioWare, Codemasters, and Respawn Entertainment, and its live service revenues, including extra content and subscriptions, account for almost two-thirds of its total revenue. EA's flagship franchises, such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA) and Madden NFL, consistently rank among the best-selling games, with new releases selling millions of copies within the first month. The company's market capitalization stands at approximately $41.49 billion as of December 2024. EA's games are available on all major gaming platforms, with console games contributing 61.3% of its net sales. For more information, visit EA's official website.
Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading video game developer and publisher, renowned for its diverse and highly successful franchises such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rayman. The company has sold over 200 million copies of the Assassin's Creed series since its launch in 2007 and has achieved significant milestones, including Far Cry 6 selling over 10 million copies in its first fiscal year. Despite recent financial challenges, Ubisoft generated about 1 billion euros in net bookings from digital items and live service models in the 2022-23 fiscal year. With a global workforce of around 19,400 employees as of September 2023, Ubisoft continues to innovate, including ventures into cloud gaming and VR titles. The company's market capitalization, though reduced, stands at $1.71 billion as of December 2024. For more detailed insights, visit the Ubisoft company page.
Capcom
Capcom, founded in 1979, has established itself as one of the leading video game producers, known for its iconic titles such as Monster Hunter and Resident Evil. As of fiscal year 2024, Capcom sold approximately 45.89 million games, with 41.35 million being digital downloads, reflecting a significant shift towards digital gaming solutions accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's best-selling title, Monster Hunter: World, has achieved over 20.9 million unit sales as of September 2024. Capcom's market capitalization has grown substantially, reaching $9.71 billion as of December 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.87% since 1992. This growth underscores Capcom's enduring influence and success in the gaming industry. For more information, visit Capcom's official website.
Activision Blizzard
Activision Blizzard is a leading video game producer, renowned for its iconic franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush. In the second quarter of 2023, the company achieved a 50% year-over-year increase in net bookings, with Blizzard delivering its first $1 billion net bookings quarter driven by the successful launch of Diablo IV. The company's Activision segment saw a 19% year-over-year growth in net revenue, while Blizzard's segment revenue grew by 172%. With nearly 500 million monthly active users across 196 countries, Activision Blizzard is the world's largest standalone interactive entertainment company. The company's mobile content, particularly from King, continues to generate significant revenue, with Candy Crush Saga still a top performer even a decade after its release. For more details, visit the Activision Blizzard website.
Bandai Namco
Bandai Namco, a leading video game producer, is renowned for its diverse and successful game franchises. In the fiscal year ending March 2024, the company generated approximately 159.8 billion yen in home video game sales, although this represents a decrease from the previous year's 174.4 billion yen. Despite this, Bandai Namco sold almost 39.7 million video games in the same period. The company also dominates the Japanese digital card game market, holding a 54% share in fiscal year 2024. Additionally, Bandai Namco's global net sales reached around $7 billion in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, marking a 6.07% increase from the previous year. For more details about Bandai Namco's video game annual sales, please visit the link.
Rockstar Games
Rockstar Games is a renowned video game developer and publisher, celebrated for creating high-quality, immersive games that have captivated a global audience. Founded in December 1998 as a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar Games has achieved monumental success with franchises like Grand Theft Auto, which has sold over 250 million copies, and Red Dead Redemption, with Red Dead Redemption 2 selling 34 million copies. The company's flagship title, Grand Theft Auto V, is the second-best-selling video game of all time, with over 135 million copies sold as of 2020. Rockstar Games generates significant revenue through game sales, in-game purchases, and licensing deals, with a notable shift towards digital sales, aligning with Take-Two Interactive's 95.6% digital revenue share in the fiscal year 2024. The company's commitment to innovation and quality has solidified its position as a leader in the video game industry. For more detailed information, visit their Wikipedia page.
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