Central Europe

Germany: Demand for games hardware increases by 26 per cent

Published

1 month ago

May 6, 2021

Demand for games hardware increases by 26 per cent

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Demand for games hardware increased considerably in Germany in 2020. Whereas in 2019, sales of gaming PCs, games consoles and accessories generated around 2.5 billion euros, this figure rose to over 3.2 billion euros in 2020. This equates to an increase of 26 per cent. These are the numbers released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by the market research company GfK. There was a particularly high demand for peripherals for gaming PCs, with sales of special gaming mice, keyboards, monitors, graphics cards and virtual reality headsets generating around 1.2 billion euros – approximately 46 per cent more than in 2019. Sales of consoles and console accessories also grew considerably last year. Stationary and handheld consoles generated around 650 million euros, which was 25 per cent more than in 2019; console accessories such as gamepads and steering wheels generated 275 million euros – an increase of 24 per cent. Sales of gaming PCs also increased to around 1.1 billion euros, which is about 10 per cent higher than in 2019.

‘Millions of people took advantage of the lockdowns in 2020 to play games together,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Many upgraded their gaming PCs, and lots of them bought their first console and became new gaming fans. Besides the strong demand for the Nintendo Switch, the launch of the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles and a new generation of graphics cards also generated high sales. Games hardware has never been in such high demand in Germany as it was in 2020.’

The games market in 2020: growth across all market segments

It was not just games hardware that saw a dramatic rise in sales in 2020 – so too did the entire market for computer and video games, and across all segments. The strongest increase was posted in sales revenue for in-game and in-app purchases, which grew by 44 per cent within a single year, achieving total sales revenue of over 3.2 billion euros. Charges for online services also saw especially strong growth of 50 per cent to 692 million euros. This segment includes online services, subscriptions and cloud gaming services such as EA Play Pro, Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+. The sale of computer and video games generated more than 1.1 billion euros in revenue, an 11 per cent increase over 2019. Subscriptions to individual games, such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy XIV, resulted in a 44 per cent increase in sales revenue. This market segment thus grew to 163 million euros.

About the market data

Please note: GfK has adjusted its definition of hardware designed for games, which increased the size of the market, making the figures for 2019 slightly higher than reported last year.

The market data is based on statistics compiled by the GfK Consumer Panel and App Annie. The methods used by GfK to collect data on Germany’s video games market are unique in terms of both their quality and their global use. They include an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers who are representative of the German population as a whole regarding their video game purchasing and usage habits, as well as a retail panel. The data collection methods provide a unique insight into the German market for computer and video games.

game – the German Games Industry Association
We are the association of the German games industry. Our members include developers, publishers and many other games industry actors such as esports event organisers, educational establishments and service providers. As a joint organiser of gamescom, we are responsible for the world’s biggest event for computer and video games. We are an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, and answer questions relating to market development, games culture and media literacy. Our mission is to make Germany the best games location.

Up Next

KRAFTON announces BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA

Don't Miss

BtoBet Launches New Betting Report on Spain

Click to comment

Central Europe

Betsson Signs Deal with Masterpiece Gaming

Published

16 hours ago

June 14, 2021

Niji Narayan

Betsson Enters B2B Sportsbook and Platform B2B Agreement With Masterpiece Gaming

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Betsson has signed a B2B supply deal with Masterpiece Gaming Limited, a subsidiary of German media group ProSiebenSat.1.

As per this multi-year agreement, Betsson will provide its in-house developed sportsbook and technology (Techsson) as well as customer support, odds, risk management and its Payment Platform (PAAS) to Masterpiece Gaming.

This agreement is in line with Betsson’s long-term growth strategy and confirms the company’s status as a global, in-demand supplier of B2B sportsbook and platform solutions.

“This deal proves that we have a competitive sportsbook product that is attractive and in demand by the market. Adding Masterpiece Gaming to our list of B2B sportsbook solution partners confirms our ambition to be a strong supplier on the B2B sportsbook market as part of our growth strategy. We are proud that Masterpiece Gaming has chosen us as a supplier,” Pontus Lindwall, CEO of Betsson AB, said.

The agreement is based on a performance based product fee and will run for two years, with an option of renewal.

Central Europe

EMP Expands Riot Games Partnership as New German National Partner for the LEC!

Published

17 hours ago

June 14, 2021

George Miller

EMP Expands Riot Games Partnership as New German National Partner for the LEC!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

As we gear up for a hot 2021 Summer Season of action at the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), we’re delighted to announce that apparel brand EMP will be joining us as a National Partner of the German LEC broadcast!

EMP is an officially licensed seller of League of Legends merchandise, creating stylish designs based on some of the most iconic characters to hit the Rift. You’ll be seeing EMP appear throughout the German LEC broadcasts, highlighting some of their incredible LoL merch designed to show off your love of the game and the champions within. We’re extremely excited that they’ve chosen to take their partnership even further and work with us at the LEC.

“We’re looking forward to expanding our collaboration with Riot Games, also in the area of sponsorship and events,” says Head of Social & Brand Media at EMP, Philipp Bensmann. “We hope for a fair and exciting season with many unique interactions within the European League of Legends community.”

“Our company differentiates itself through our exclusive merchandise products, including licensed League of Legends merch, and our close relationship with fans,” adds EMP’s Chief Digital Officer, Sascha Müller. “That’s why collaboration with an exclusive, professional and community-adjacent league such as the LEC is an important further strategic step for our gaming engagement.”

EMP are joining us for what is set to be an incredibly exciting season of action. MAD Lions are returning from an impressive Mid-Season Invitational run to prove that they’re not just a one-time winning team. Fnatic are making huge roster changes in an effort to regain their place at the top of the leaderboards. No matter who you’re rooting for, it’s sure to be an incredible season.

The LEC returns today, with EMP as a National Partner for Germany. Make sure to catch all the action on lolesports.com.

Central Europe

GAMOMAT lands brace of titles at prestigious 2021 German Brand Awards

Published

18 hours ago

June 14, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

GAMOMAT, one of the leading German iGaming development studios, came out on top in two categories at last Friday’s prestigious German Brand Award ceremony in Berlin.

In a highly competitive class, GAMOMAT walked away with titles in “Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation – Brand Design – Corporate Brand” and “Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation – Brand Communication – Web & Mobile”. Both awards came after an intensive process of examining the values and identity of the company.

Berlin-based agency, Less Rain, developed the corporate design of the GAMOMAT brand and the relaunch of the award-winning website. The colourful, playful and clear brand design flows throughout every element of the website. At the heart of GAMOMAT’s brand identity is the lavishly produced personalised podcast series which shines a light on the shared values and vibrant corporate culture.

“The two awards are fantastic recognition of our work, as the German Brand Award is one of the
most important for successful brand management in Germany,” says Sabine Müller, Chief Design Officer of Berlin-based GAMOMAT Development GmbH. “Winning awards is not the driving force behind undertaking a corporate rebrand, but being honoured at the German Brand Awards will encourage us to steadfastly continue our consistent brand management and effective brand communication with agency Less Rain.”

Taking to the podium twice on Friday was a proud moment for the innovative Berlin game developer and recognition for an extremely successful team project.