Central Europe

German Games Market Stabilises at a High Level

Published

2 months ago

April 13, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Following major increases in sales revenue in both 2020 and 2021, the German games market stabilised at a high level in 2022 – that was the conclusion offered by game – the German Games Industry Association when presenting the market data from surveys carried out by market research companies GfK and data.ai. Whereas the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in annual growth of 32% and 17% respectively, in 2022 sales revenue generated by games, gaming hardware and charges for online services rose by an additional 1% to 9.87 billion euros.

“The German games market was amazingly stable in 2022 despite various challenges. Following the strong growth achieved in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people had expected sales revenue to decline in 2022, for example due to the high rate of inflation over the course of the year, the decline in time spent playing games, or the many games whose release dates had been postponed. In light of these circumstances, the 1% growth achieved in 2022 is yet another sign of the industry’s success as the German games market manages to consolidate its gains near the ten-billion-euro mark,” said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – the German Games Industry Association.

Even the number of video game players has managed to stabilise at a high level following the growth achieved in the Covid-19 years: approximately six out of every ten people between the ages of six and 69 in Germany play games. There is also little difference according to gender, with women making up 48% of video game players in Germany, and men 52%. As has been the case in recent years, the average age once again rose slightly and is now 37.9 years. In all, 78% of players in Germany are at least 18 years old.

Sales revenue from online gaming services is growing, while demand for gaming hardware has declined somewhat.

As with the market overall, the market segment devoted to games for PCs, game consoles and mobile devices has remained stable. For computer and video games (−1% to approximately 1.1 billion euros) as well as in-game and in-app purchases (+2% to approximately 4.5 billion euros), sales revenue figures were similar to last year’s. These include season passes, additional levels, cosmetic items (for example skins) and subscription fees for individual online games. In total, sales revenue from games for PCs, game consoles and mobile devices grew by roughly 1% to 5.5 billion euros in 2022.

The online gaming services market segment experienced yet another year of strong growth, with sales revenue from these services increasing by 20% to 866 million euros. Among the categories in this segment are fee-based subscription services that provide access to a large selection of games, cloud-based games, online multiplayer functions, and the ability to save game progress in the cloud. This market segment has enjoyed particularly dynamic growth. This is demonstrated not only by the large increase in sales revenue, but also by the wide range of gaming services on offer. Even though some large providers discontinued certain services last year, other services were expanded and revamped. As a result, numerous online gaming services have long since begun offering a range of functions – thereby rendering the old distinctions between online gaming services, subscription gaming services and cloud gaming services obsolete. Examples of these services include EA Play, Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+.

One of the most significant growth drivers in recent years has been gaming hardware, including gaming PCs, game consoles and the corresponding accessories. Following huge leaps in growth of 30 and 18% in the past two years, 2022 saw this market segment decline slightly, by around 3% to 3.5 billion euros. Reasons for this fall in revenues include the fact that game consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as well as the latest graphic cards were not available across the board. In addition, the major growth of the past two years means that numerous video game players already own the very latest gaming hardware.

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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.”