These categories can provide high returns, but they require clear communication and adherence to strict rules.
Good partnerships and transparency are the way forward.
Games & dating in numbers – 2026
Newzoo forecasts the global games market at $213.9 billion in 2026, up 6.1% on 2025.
Online dating is a much smaller market, which Statista projects at $3.25 billion in 2026.
Figures are worldwide unless stated otherwise.
Video games market revenue, worldwide
$213.9B
2026 forecast (Newzoo Global Games Market Report), up from $201.6B in 2025 [1]
Affiliate marketing industry, worldwide
$27.8B
2026, all niches [6]
Share of e-commerce driven by affiliates ESTIMATE
~9.4%
US benchmark, all niches – not niche-specific [7]
Europe and the Nordics
| Region | 2025 | 2026 (forecast) | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe – B2C e-commerce | $1.02T | $1.08T | +5% |
| Northern Europe – B2C e-commerce | $78.1B | $82.9B | +6% |
| Denmark – B2C e-commerce per person | $5,007 | – | #1 in Europe |
All-sector B2C e-commerce [8].
Games & dating is not reported separately, so use these figures as market context, not as niche totals.
Exchange rates: USD→EUR 0.89, USD→DKK 6.66, EUR→DKK 7.48 (October 2026) [9].
Affiliate networks to check for this niche
TYPICAL COMMISSION
3–25%
Game software and subscriptions typically pay 10–25%, while gaming hardware pays 3–7%. Dating offers mostly pay a fixed amount per lead ($2–$10) or per paid signup ($30–$70) rather than a percentage. [4]
Key takeaways
Sources
- GodisaGeek – Newzoo: GTA VI set to push global games market to $213.9 billion in 2026
- MediaNews4U – Newzoo Global Games Market Report (Sept 2026)
- Statista Market Insights – Online Dating, worldwide
- AFFNinja – Affiliate Commission Rates by Niche: 2026 Full Breakdown
- Taylor Wessing – European Commission guidelines on protection of minors under the DSA
- Business Research Insights – Affiliate Market Size, 2026
- Performance Marketing Association – US Affiliate Marketing Industry Study
- Ecommerce Europe / EuroCommerce – European E-commerce Report 2026
- Pound Sterling Live – USD exchange rate history 2026
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