Central Europe

The number of games companies and employees in Germany continues to grow

Published

10 months ago

August 12, 2022

The number of games companies and employees in Germany continues to grow

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The upswing in the German games industry continues: significant increases in the number of German games companies and employees in 2021 are being followed up by further growth in both figures. There are currently approximately 786 companies in Germany that are involved in the development and marketing of computer and video games or in one of these two areas. This is 5 per cent more than in 2021. These are the figures released today by game – the German Games Industry Association, based on data collected by gamesmap.de. A majority of these companies (392, down by 3 per cent) are active in both development and publishing. 358 games studios focus solely on the development of games for PCs, games consoles and mobile devices. The number of these companies exhibited particularly strong growth, rising by 14 per cent compared to the previous year. The number of companies who are active solely as publishers is significantly lower, with just 36 such companies in Germany (up 13 per cent).

The positive trend in the number of employees has also continued, as the previous year’s 8 per cent growth has been followed up by approximately 3 per cent growth in the core market. This brings the total number of people employed in the development and marketing of games in Germany to 11,242. Differences in the growth rates underscore the degree to which the establishment of numerous smaller companies is driving the current growth trend in the German games industry: whereas the number of games companies in the core market has increased by 26 per cent over the past two years, the rate of growth in the number of employees during this same time span has been lower, at just under 12 per cent. Following a decline in the previous year, the games industry’s extended labour market also recovered somewhat: the estimated number of people employed here increased by nearly 6 per cent to 17,048. This extended labour market includes people employed by service providers, retailers, educational establishments, the media and the public sector in connection with the games industry. In total, the German games industry currently therefore secures more than 28,000 jobs.

The upswing in the German games industry continues: the increase of 26 per cent in the number of companies in just two years shows that Germany is on the right track as it strives to improve its attractiveness as a games location. Many of the positive impacts of the relatively new federal support programme for the games industry have yet to show up in the statistics, because most games are the result of a multi-year development process. Even so, growth in the number of companies and in their employees already offers us evidence of the industry’s high level of confidence that this upswing is going to last, particularly if policymakers continue to take the decisions necessary to continue this course,’ said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game.

Another year of strong growth for the German games market

Sales revenue from computer and video games and associated hardware is currently experiencing even stronger growth than that enjoyed by numbers of companies and their employees: following a historic 2020 performance with a 32 per cent jump in sales, sales revenues in the German games market continued to rise significantly in 2021 with a total of approximately 9.8 billion euros in sales revenue generated by games, games hardware and fees for online gaming services – an increase of 17 per cent compared to the previous year. Sales revenue from computer and video games grew by 19 per cent to about 5.4 billion euros, due among other things to increases in in-game and in-app purchases. Sales revenue from games hardware has also grown, by 18 per cent overall to about 3.6 billion euros. Demand for games consoles and gaming PC accessories was particularly strong.

About the market data

The online directory gamesmap.de records developments in the German games industry on an ongoing basis. game continuously calculates the industry’s employment situation in Germany using detailed industry observations and research, together with appropriate projections and surveys of experts.

The market data is based on statistics compiled by the GfK Consumer Panel and data.ai. The methods used by GfK to collect data on Germany’s digital 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.

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Central Europe

PRAGMATIC PLAY STRENGTHENS AUSTRIAN PRESENCE WITH WIN2DAY PARTNERSHIP

Published

6 days ago

May 31, 2023

George Miller

PRAGMATIC PLAY STRENGTHENS AUSTRIAN PRESENCE WITH WIN2DAY PARTNERSHIP

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the iGaming industry, is supplying games to Austrian operator win2day.

Operated by Austrian Lotteries, win2day is the only licensed supplier of lottery and online casino in Austria, where it also provides sports betting.

A selection of Pragmatic Play’s award-winning portfolio of Slots is being made available to win2day players over the coming weeks. Already live is Madame Destiny Megaways™, which will soon be followed by award-winning titles Gates of Olympus™ and Sweet Bonanza™.

Other player favourites scheduled for release include Big Bass Bonanza™, Big Bass Splash™, The Dog House Megaways™, Fruit Party™, Book of the Fallen™, John Hunter™ and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen™, and Wolf Gold™.

The partnership with win2day follows a pattern of continued expansion for Pragmatic Play in regulated markets across the globe.

Irina Cornides, Chief Operating Officer at Pragmatic Play, said: “I’m excited to welcome win2day to our growing customer base in Austria. Pragmatic Play is proud to partner with operators who share our commitment to product quality and player protection, as we strive to provide engaging entertainment experiences for new and established audiences worldwide.”

Martin Miesler, Head of Games at win2day, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Pragmatic Play and begin uploading its slot content to our platform. Win2day is proud of providing the most impressive and innovative offering to our online casino players, a criterion that Pragmatic Play fills perfectly and we can’t wait to see how our audience responds.”

Central Europe

Hipther’s Autumn Flagship Event Rebranded to GamingTECH CEE – Don’t Miss the Early Bird Offer!

Published

1 week ago

May 29, 2023

George Miller

Hipther’s Autumn Flagship Event Rebranded to GamingTECH CEE - Don’t Miss the Early Bird Offer!

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The #hipthers are thrilled to announce the biggest edition and rebranding of Hipther Agency’s renowned flagship event for the Central and Eastern European region: the CEEGC Budapest gets a fresh makeover and becomes the GamingTECH CEE Summit Budapest!

The hugely successful event series in Budapest has cemented the hipthers’ leadership in the region of Central and Eastern Europe, embraced by the iGaming and Tech industry professionals locally and beyond.

GamingTECH CEE, formerly known as CEEGC, has a 7-year tradition of being the leading event in the Central and Eastern European region during Autumn. The conference brings together key players in the gaming industry, providing a wealth of valuable information and opportunities for quality networking. Furthermore, the GamingTECH Awards recognize and celebrate the most innovative and successful companies in the region.

GamingTECH CEE 2023 will take place on 26 September at the Ritz-Carlton, Budapest, while the hipthers will be offering Early Registration and Welcome Drinks on the 25th, to help participants break the ice, connect with new and old friends, and relax before the knowledge-packed conference.

The final Conference Agenda is to be announced, with the current draft promising insights about the future of Gaming in the Central and Eastern Europe, Compliance Challenges and Opportunities, Responsible Gaming, Blockchain, AI and Machine Learning, as well as Networking Sessions and the Evening Social Gathering to close the event in style and togetherness!

Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder and Head of Business of Hipther, stated about the upcoming event: “We are embracing the boundless possibilities of the future and the transformative power of technology in the gambling industry. Through the rebranding of CEEGC Budapest to GamingTECH CEE Summit Budapest, we herald a new era of excitement, innovation, and limitless potential. Join us this September in Budapest to explore the frontiers of gaming technology, as we pave the way for a future that will revolutionize the way we play, engage, and win”.

GamingTECH CEE 2023 Registration is Now Open!

→ Don’t Miss the Early Bird Rates & Stay Tuned for the Combo Pass that is coming soon!

Central Europe

Esports Championships Amplifies the Excitement of Highly Anticipated European Games in Poland

Published

2 weeks ago

May 26, 2023

Niji Narayan

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The inaugural European Games Esports Championships (#EGE23) will welcome esports athletes and teams from across Europe to compete in two top esports titles – eFootball 2023 and Rocket League, this June.

The esports athletes will compete in parallel with the 7000 athletes representing 48 countries at the third edition of the European Games in Kraków and the Małopolska region of Poland. #EGE23 will add a whole new dimension of competition and entertainment to this grand sporting fiesta.

The Global Esports Federation and the European Olympic Committees confirmed that #EGE23 will run from June 30 to July 2. The International Congress Centre (MCK) in Katowice will become the epicentre of digital competition and is set to be a landmark event in the region’s sporting calendar.

The Open and Women Categories for eFootball 2023 and Open Category for Rocket League at #EGE23 will allow esports athletes from across the continent to compete for national glory.

Commenting on the groundbreaking nature of #EGE23, Aurelia Ruetsch, GEF Board Member and Chair of the EGE23 Coordination Commission, said: “The European Games Esports Championships represents a pioneering moment for esports in Europe. Having been part of the team at the inaugural European Games Baku 2015, I am thrilled to see another first with the EOC as we convene top-level esports competitions alongside traditional sports, celebrating youth culture in the heart of Europe.”

“We are delighted to see esports in this prestigious event – the European Games. The #EGE23 is a significant milestone in the development of esports in Europe. It’s a joyful celebration of youth, esports, and sport all together,” Chris Chan, President of the GEF, said.

In addition to the esports competitions, the #EGE23 will feature the GEFestival – a celebration of esports’ inclusive culture, games, music and entertainment – and GEFcon, a global convention of thought leaders and idea creators in business, esports, sport and technology on an international stage for sharing and learning.

“The Esports Championships is an extraordinary addition to the European Games lineup and underscores the progressive vision of the diversity and inclusivity of the sports world, highlighting the common ground they share in terms of dedication, strategy, and the pursuit of excellence. We are delighted to collaborate with the Global Esports Federation on the first of many planned initiatives,” Spyros Capralos, President of EOC, said.

Hasan Arat, Chair of the EOC Coordination Commission for the European Games 2023, said: “The EOC is delighted to have partnered with the Global Esports Federation to host the Esports Championships in Katowice this summer.

“Esports is hugely popular worldwide, especially among the younger generation, and as the European Games continues to look for ways to innovate and attract a younger audience, this is a significant step.

“The International Congress Center in Katowice will be the perfect venue for the competition, and I know that it will be a memorable occasion for all the esports athletes taking part.”